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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Wedgwood collection: Art Fund launches appeal to save it | Wedgwood collection: Art Fund launches appeal to save it |
| (3 days later) | |
| A public appeal has been launched to save the Wedgwood Museum pottery collection, which is being sold to pay off the ceramics firm's pension bill. | A public appeal has been launched to save the Wedgwood Museum pottery collection, which is being sold to pay off the ceramics firm's pension bill. |
| The museum in Stoke-on-Trent went into administration in 2010 after the firm collapsed and its £134m pension debts was transferred to the museum trust. | The museum in Stoke-on-Trent went into administration in 2010 after the firm collapsed and its £134m pension debts was transferred to the museum trust. |
| The Art Fund said it already had about £13m to buy it but needed to raise a further £2.7m by 30 November. | The Art Fund said it already had about £13m to buy it but needed to raise a further £2.7m by 30 November. |
| It said it feared the collection would be split up if it went to auction. | It said it feared the collection would be split up if it went to auction. |
| Waterford Wedgwood Plc collapsed in January 2009 and its pensions liability of about 8,000 former Wedgwood workers was transferred to the museum. | Waterford Wedgwood Plc collapsed in January 2009 and its pensions liability of about 8,000 former Wedgwood workers was transferred to the museum. |
| The museum then went into administration in 2010. | The museum then went into administration in 2010. |
| Although the pension debt was paid by the Pension Protection Fund (PPF), a high court judge ruled in 2011 that the £15m worth collection could be sold to reimburse it. | Although the pension debt was paid by the Pension Protection Fund (PPF), a high court judge ruled in 2011 that the £15m worth collection could be sold to reimburse it. |
| Now, The Art Fund has said it has secured about £13m from the Heritage Lottery Fund and other donations to buy it. | Now, The Art Fund has said it has secured about £13m from the Heritage Lottery Fund and other donations to buy it. |
| Director Stephen Deuchar said it did not want to the collection "broken up and sold off on the open market". | Director Stephen Deuchar said it did not want to the collection "broken up and sold off on the open market". |
| He said: "If, with the public's help, we can raise the remaining funds...[it will] enable us to keep it together and on display locally and ensuring it is never put at risk again." | He said: "If, with the public's help, we can raise the remaining funds...[it will] enable us to keep it together and on display locally and ensuring it is never put at risk again." |
| The collection has 80,000 works of art, ceramics and pattern books, covering 250 years of history. | The collection has 80,000 works of art, ceramics and pattern books, covering 250 years of history. |
| Carole Souter, chief executive of the Heritage Lottery Fund, said it had contributed about £10.8m to the campaign. | |
| She said: "As well as being a breathtaking collection of ceramics and a wonderful archive it shows how Josiah Wedgwood interacted with his peers, the influence he had and how his thinking led to a completely different approach to industrial manufacturing." | She said: "As well as being a breathtaking collection of ceramics and a wonderful archive it shows how Josiah Wedgwood interacted with his peers, the influence he had and how his thinking led to a completely different approach to industrial manufacturing." |
| The Art Fund said it planned to lease the collection to the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London, if its bid was successful. | The Art Fund said it planned to lease the collection to the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London, if its bid was successful. |
| The V&A would then loan it to WWRD, the firm that now manufactures and sells the Wedgwood brand, for display at the Wedgwood Museum in Barlaston, it said. | The V&A would then loan it to WWRD, the firm that now manufactures and sells the Wedgwood brand, for display at the Wedgwood Museum in Barlaston, it said. |
| Members of the Wedgwood family said it would be "a relief" to have the collection kept together in Staffordshire. | Members of the Wedgwood family said it would be "a relief" to have the collection kept together in Staffordshire. |
| "It's not just about pots it's about 250 years of best of British," said Alison Wedgwood. | "It's not just about pots it's about 250 years of best of British," said Alison Wedgwood. |
| "It would make an absolute mockery of our industrial heritage if we let this collection get broken up and sold off. | "It would make an absolute mockery of our industrial heritage if we let this collection get broken up and sold off. |
| Administrator Bob Young said: "The Staffordshire public have got a great reputation for raising money, if you think back to the campaign for the Staffordshire Hoard. | Administrator Bob Young said: "The Staffordshire public have got a great reputation for raising money, if you think back to the campaign for the Staffordshire Hoard. |
| "£2.7m sounds like a lot of money but I think the public will respond to save the collection and the museum." | "£2.7m sounds like a lot of money but I think the public will respond to save the collection and the museum." |