Ruling: Tate Broke Law In Buying Ofili Work

Britain’s Charity Commission has ruled that the Tate Museum broke the law when it cought a £600,000 work by Chris Ofili. “Most major art institutions are set up as charities. By law, trustees cannot receive monetary benefit from their charity without express permission, usually from the commission. The Tate failed to seek permission, not only in the case of the Ofili work, The Upper Room, but in 17 previous purchases of work by artist-trustees going back 50 years.”