STEALING BANKSY? organisers have revealed that their recent exhibition and auction was never created for the sale of street art, and that many of the pieces displayed were not actually available for sale. The work on display had strict caveats placed on them – that upon purchase they would be donated back for public display, and that the proceeds from any sale would benefit local charities and the creation of a permanent museum for Street Art.
As a company Sincura were approached at the start of this project to explore the feasibility of the creation of the world’s first Street Art Museum in the heart of London. Sincura believes strongly that street art is an important part of the modern day art movement and should be recognised as such. Established museums do not have budgets allocated for the preservation of such art and school curriculums shun the subject.
The group were tasked to prove that there was a demand for this, for the artwork to remain on view, for the conservation of the art, and as a public debate. This is why we called the show STEALING BANKSY? with the goals to explore the social, legal and moral side of the sale of street art. Our goal was not to answer questions but to ask them to the general public.
The show saw a huge amount of public opinion, both good and bad, and proved that as a nation we do feel attached to this form of artwork. Our tours during the show where aimed at explaining the work we do and to engage the public for their opinions on the street art movement. And the positive feedback was tremendous.
As such Sincura are in advanced negotiations with The Old London Underground Company to convert a disused London underground station into the first ever Street Art Museum in the world.
The Street Art Museum will be a working museum providing educational services to schools, showcasing preserved works, and highlighting up-and-coming artists. Much like the STEALING BANKSY? exhibition, the museum will support a number of local charities.
Much of the artwork on display at the STEALING BANKSY? will be donated back to the museum. We did not mean to pull the wool over people’s eyes but we were under strict instructions by our event patriarch to operate the STEALING BANKSY? exhibition under the guise of it being a sale of popular street art. By showing the negatives we hoped the positives would shine through, which it did.
Sincura anticipate the London Street Art Museum to be open within 12 months and thank the public for their engagement in this project.
Photo: © P C Robinson Artlyst 2014