Salford Mayor campaigns to keep Lowry painting 'Going to the Match' from auction
The painting is valued at 8 million pounds
Salford Mayor Paul Dennett has launched a campaign today to bring famous L S Lowry painting 'Going to the Match' back to The Lowry gallery.
The artwork used to live amongst other paintings by the Stretford-born artist in the gallery but it is now on its way to London to be auctioned off to a private owner.
In response to this, Paul Dennett has asked the government to place an to place an export ban on the piece, so the painting cannot leave the country.
He hopes this will give him time to raise the funds necessary to buy back Lowry's work for the city of Salford.
The painting is valued at 8 million pounds.
So far, we know he has asked football clubs, players and other 'people of means' for donations.
He told us here at Hits Radio: "Its been here in the art gallery for 22 years, free to access for members of the public.
"It would be a huge tragedy and scandal really if 'Going to the Match' was lost to a private collection and never seen by members of the public again."
The Mayor also said: "Lowry captured working class life. The very fact that he did that tells me that he would have wanted working class people to see his work.
"I think Lowry would be chuffed to bits that we're trying to safeguard 'Going to the Match' for the people of Salford, Greater Manchester, the North and beyond."