National art preservation appears insufficient, hinting at a need for more action
In a bid to keep a significant piece of British art history within the country, The Hepworth Wakefield museum is leading a fundraising campaign to acquire Barbara Hepworth's 1943 sculpture, Sculpture with Colour (Oval Form) Pale Blue and Red, valued at £3.8 million. The sculpture, currently under a temporary export bar by the UK government, has captured the hearts of many, and the museum is eager to secure it before the export bar expires on 27 August 2025.
The campaign has seen impressive progress so far. As of late July 2025, over 80% of the target has been raised, with Art Fund pledging £750,000 and public donations coming from over 1,300 contributors. However, a remaining balance of around £440,000 must be secured to ensure the sculpture remains in the UK and becomes a permanent fixture at The Hepworth Wakefield.
The timeline for potential acquisition is critical. The Hepworth Wakefield and Art Fund must complete fundraising and secure the sale before the export bar deadline. If successful, the sculpture will remain in the UK and go on permanent public display at the museum.
The sculpture meets all three Waverley criteria, which include close connection with British history and national life, outstanding aesthetic importance, or outstanding significance for the study of art, learning, or history. The committee, created in 1952 following a report by John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley, uses these criteria to determine whether an item should be deferred from export.
The campaign to retain the sculpture is part of a larger effort. In the 2024-25 period, three items (together worth £22.45 million) were still under deferral, including a painting of the Virgin and Child by Botticelli valued at £9.96 million. However, the chances of the Botticelli painting being retained seem remote.
In comparison to the previous year, the retained items represented a smaller percentage, with only 33.3% of the deferred items being retained, representing a mere 1.5% of their aggregate value. Of the rest, six items were acquired by British institutions, and nine were exported.
Donations can be made via the Art Fund for the sculpture purchase. If you wish to contribute to the preservation of this significant piece of British art, you can do so by visiting the Art Fund's website. Every donation brings us closer to ensuring that this masterpiece remains in the UK for generations to come.
In other news, King's College, Cambridge, acquired working papers by Alan Turing for £397,680, and a newly discovered gold coin of a previously unrecorded Iron Age ruler was bought by the British Museum for just under £21,000. These acquisitions underscore the importance of preserving our cultural heritage and the ongoing efforts to do so.
Stay tuned for more updates on the campaign to save Barbara Hepworth's sculpture. As Athena, the Cultural Crusader of our platform, writes in her weekly column in the magazine, every effort counts in the preservation of our cultural history. Let's work together to ensure that Sculpture with Colour (Oval Form) Pale Blue and Red remains a part of it.
The ongoing fundraising campaign for the acquisition of Barbara Hepworth's sculpture is a significant part of the policy-and-legislation surrounding the preservation of British art. The politics of this situation lies in the committee's decision to defer the export of the sculpture, giving time for the public and institutions to raise funds to secure its permanent display.
The campaign to retain the sculpture also falls under the general-news category, as it highlights the ongoing efforts to preserve significant pieces of British art history. Every donation made towards the sculpture's acquisition contributes to this larger conservation effort.
