Renowned artist's granddaughter explains why £200m collection won't be shown at Haigh Hall

The granddaughter of renowned Wigan artist Theodore Major has explained why she is now refusing to allow his work to be exhibited at Haigh Hall when its £50m renovation is complete. In a statement, Ruth Owers said she ‘cannot in good conscience’ agree to the Appley Bridge artist’s £200m collection being shown.

She said this was because of how she claims Wigan council - which is running the restoration - had treated her late mother Mary [Theodore’s daughter] and filmmakers Al and Al - also known as Al Holmes and Al Taylor - who left the project recently. Ms Owers described the council’s decision not to renew Al and Al’s contract [it expired on August 31] as ‘incomprehensible’.

“My mother very sadly passed away in July this year,” she said. “My mum had such faith in Al and Al, and having them both in her life gave her so much joy and great comfort to the end.

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“On her death bed, my mum said that the last few years had been the most special in her life. Al and Al were like angels. They took the worry she had carried for so long and let her truly enjoy her last few years.”

She said that when Wigan council announced the successful Level Up bid in January 2023 [for £20m], the proposals for housing the Major Collection in Haigh Hall were not even mentioned.

“Wigan council was focused only on promoting its own political agenda.” she said. “My mum was upset the Major collection was excluded from the press statement; it gave us a sense we were not being treated as an equal stakeholder in the transformation of Haigh Hall, even though the Major collection was to be the cornerstone of this opportunity to transform the future of the building.”

She went on: “Wigan council did not consult us or any other stakeholder when they terminated Al and Al’s contract as creative directors of the Haigh Hall Project without notice and with immediate effect. We were shocked and deeply saddened.”

“Al and Al have worked so closely with us as a family over the last four years, and my Mum trusted Al and Al to build an institution which would truly reflect the legacy of my grandfather’s art and open it up to the people of Wigan and the nation.

“We cannot in good conscience entrust the Major family collection to an organisation that would treat anyone in such a way. My mother Mary would never have continued with this project had she been alive to witness what has happened.”

“I also stand by my grandfather, who as an artist, was also historically treated abysmally by Wigan council. We stand in solidarity with artists, creatives and the people of Wigan, as my grandfather and Mother always did and would have done now.”

Her statement concluded: “So, with a heavy heart, I share this last testament of my Mother Mary Major, and withdraw support for the Haigh Hall project.

“We understand that this will represent a huge loss to the people of Wigan and to the region, but a collection of this importance needs to be in the hands of those who understand its value and can appreciate its position in modern British art.”

Council bosses were already working with the Arts Council England to secure other art to exhibit as well as the Major collection.

James Winterbottom, the council’s director for strategy and innovation, said: “The family have obviously been through a difficult time with the death of Mary Major, which we were are all sad about and our hearts go out to her family, and they have informed us that following that, they are not in a position anymore to establish the trust which would be needed to loan the collection.

"We are still keen to develop that relationship if possible. We are open to working on that.”