Seven art and culture experts have been trusted with control of the Southampton’s extensive art collection, giving them control over the future publicly owned art that is often unseen in council owned buildings and offices.

Chipperfield Trust advisory committee members have been approved by our city council in a move sparking fresh calls for publicly owned art to be sold off to raise funds and preserve the jobs and services cut-back by council leaders in the February budget.

Thus far however the committee has ruled out selling any of its masterpieces.

Last month Southampton City Council agreed savings of around £16m by cutting 234 jobs, reducing tax breaks for pensioners, youth services, children’s centres and libraries.

The Chipperfield Trust advisory committee members are volunteers and do not receive a salary for their work.