Only 85 of Westmorland and Furness Council's 461 artworks can be seen by the public as the authority's collection continues to grow despite mounting financial pressures.
Following an investigation by Penrith Town News into how Westmorland and Furness Council spends public money, we can reveal that the authority owns an art collection worth more than £2 million – but the overwhelming majority of it is hidden from public view.
Figures show that, as of 29 June 2026, the council owned approximately 461 individual works of art with a combined value of £2,031,760. Of those, just 85 pieces were available for members of the public to see.
While a small number of artworks are displayed in libraries and museums across the council area, many of the authority's more valuable pieces are kept in council offices or placed into storage, away from public access.
The collection has continued to expand. During 2025, Westmorland and Furness Council added 22 more artworks to its collection.
The figures come as the authority has publicly stated it is at risk of issuing a Section 114 notice – effectively declaring itself unable to balance its budget. Figures for the end of the 2025/26 financial year also show the council overspent its budget by £5.2 million.
The TaxPayers' Alliance believes councils should regularly review whether they need to retain assets that are not being used for the benefit of residents.
A spokesperson said: "It is important that councils assess what they do and do not need to hold on to. Local authorities must ensure taxpayers' money is being used as effectively as possible on their residents' priorities."
Among the artworks now in storage are pieces previously owned by the former Eden District Council. Before local government reorganisation, a number of these works were on display inside Penrith Town Hall and the Mansion House.
Following the creation of Westmorland and Furness Council in 2023, ownership of those artworks transferred to the new authority. After the closure of Penrith Town Hall and the Mansion House, the artworks were removed by Westmorland and Furness Council and placed into storage as part of the county archives, much of which is now stored outside Cumbria in large underground storage bunkers in Cheshire.
Since taking over the collections of the former district councils and parts of the former Cumbria County Council, Westmorland and Furness Council has added a further 34 artworks to its collection since 2023.
As of 29 June 2026, around 376 of the council's 461 artworks were not on public display, meaning more than 80 per cent of Westmorland and Furness Council's £2,031,760 art collection remained inaccessible to the public.
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