PAISLEY’s loss is GLASGOW’S GAIN: First, the good news. As it approaches its 150th anniversary, the artists collective, PAISLEY ART INSTITUTE (PAI), has cause for celebration. It is about to embark on a new chapter, a brand new life-based, at the famous Glasgow Art Club. Founded in 1867 and patronised by the Glasgow Boys, its large 1893 Gallery was designed by John Keppie, who employed a young Charles Rennie Mackintosh to undertake some of the detailed design, his distinctive style making it one of the most beautiful rooms in Scotland.
PAI’s involvement will reinvigorate the ART CLUB, thus helping both organisations at a stroke. However, the BBC didn’t mince its words with the headline “Paisley Art Institute sells a quarter of its collection after museum row.”
This is to simplify. For ten years, PAI has fought long and hard to avert this, but in the end, had no choice. Evicted by the district Council from its forever home at Paisley Art Galleries & Museum, and after organising popular annual shows for 135 years, – it was thrown out! At £45 million, Paisley Art Galleries & Museum has been “re-imagined” by deleting the words ART and galleries! Founded in 1871, designed by Honeyman of Mackintosh fame, it’s now merely Paisley Museum.
Read more on this article by Artlyst's Clare Henry