I have long been an admirer of art in hospitals. Pictures of Mickey Mouse do remind me of some trust management styles, although the bright spark who commissioned a fountain as the central piece in the urology out-patients department was soon advised that this was not such a good idea.
It is a shame though that the recession has hit investment for art in our hospitals. I saw in the news that a mere £70.3 million would secure a Picasso.
What a small price to pay to adorn a shining, brand spanking new Private Finance Initiative hospital! Alas the days of spend, spend, spend seem a distant memory; although we will continue paying for these developments for many years to come.
If a business case for a Picasso to be hung in the entrance foyer is unlikely to find its way into the capital budget what might be a suitable alternative? Well most trusts have a rogues’ gallery with photographs of the great and the good who manage the organisation. The thought struck me, what would be cheaper - a Picasso at £70.3 million, or the cost to the taxpayer of covering severance payments to executives whose photograph no longer appears in the frame?
Perhaps a Picasso might actually provide better value for money!
We’ve currently got pictures of pigs in our foyer…what’s that all about? I’ll take Picasso’s mistress over that.