Artist Hockney says museum closure 'would be a catastrophe'

Bradford-born Mr Hockney, 76 next month, said: “Of course it would be a catastrophe if it closed. I said once that attractive buildings attract people. Think of Venice or Florence or even Paris, but I don't expect Bradford to do that.”

He told the Telegraph & Argus 13 years ago that Bradford should be really extravagant in its buildings because this would get the city noticed far and wide.

The National Media Museum, with its curving glass frontage reminiscent of a strip of film, is one of the few modern buildings in Bradford that could be described as an attraction.

The artist was given the Order of Merit by the Queen and his exhibition A Bigger Picture filled all 12 rooms of London’s Royal Academy last year. This year he has had to deal with illness and the death of one of his assistants, Dominic Elliott.

But over the years, Hockney has made many contributions to the museum’s shows and exhibitions, including Joiner photographs in 1985, a lecture on photography and six years later a demonstration of making full-length colour portraits with video cameras and laser printers.

He joins a growing chorus of people speaking out against proposed closure, including legendary film star John Hurt, Monty Python stars Terry Jones and Michael Palin, singer Gareth Gates, Girls Aloud star Kimberley Walsh and City of Film director David Wilson.

Mr Wilson said: “As Director of Bradford UNESCO City of Film I often get the opportunity to talk to other UNESCO cities around the world about Bradford, our film heritage and the museum, some have visited Bradford in recent months. They are all impressed with the Media Museum and the collections.

“The Bradford International Film Festival is well known and well respected internationally and the Bradford Animation Festival is the UK’s biggest and longest running animation festival.

“City of Film is working with a range of partners across the city, the wider region, nationally and internationally to inspire the next generation of film makers and digital story tellers through the medium of film, television, animation and gaming.

“To consider closing such a facility when the world is riding the crest of the digital age is unthinkable and City of Film will do everything that we can to support the future of a vibrant museum to inspire future generations.

“If you value the museum then please make your views known by visiting more regularly and tell your family and friends. If you haven’t been for some time then you might get a pleasant surprise.”

l The union representing staff in key museums and galleries across the UK is backing the fight to save the museum.

The Public and Commercial Services union says Bradford, like other museums in the Science Museum Group, holds collections of international significance and should remain open.

The union has pledged to help organise any further meetings and protests and will be submitting evidence to the forthcoming House of Commons culture select committee inquiry