Couper Collection

The Couper Collection was a registered charity, which for many years exhibited its art in a floating gallery on converted barges, moored on the banks of the Thames in Battersea, London. It exhibited artworks and installations by artist Max Couper, as well as hosting exhibitions and events by other artists. The Collection began in 1979 as a base for a large sculpture in Battersea Park. In 1999 it was launched as a charity[1] by then UK Home Secretary Jack Straw MP. The Collection no longer exists.

The Couper Collection barges at Battersea, in 2013

Works

Major works by the Couper Collection included:

The Couper Collection also hosted a Museum of First Art containing children's artworks.

Challenged mooring rights & closure

In 2006, the Couper Collection was involved a dispute with Hutchison Whampoa and the Port of London Authority regarding a land claim at Albion Riverside and Foster and Partners's plans to remove the charity's barges.[2] Foster's lawyers, Farrer & Co, put in objections to the UK Land Registry.[3] Max Couper claimed "ancient mooring rights", but in 2013 Justice Arnold ruled that the barges were illegally moored and should be removed,[4] and Hutchison Whampoa sought to enforce the ruling with a further High Court order to "dispose of or destroy" the gallery. The PLA offered alternative mooring sites, which Couper declined.[2]

The gallery no longer exists, although in 2020 the website was still operational.[5] The charity was removed from the Charity Commission's register in 2018.[6]

The litigation was long, and complex. Proceedings were first issued in 2006.[7] In 2017 Justice Arnold granted an extended civil restraint order against Max and Magdalena Couper.[8] The final judgement in the litigation was later in 2017, when Couper attempted to sue his solicitors and counsel in the earlier proceedings.[9]

The vessels have been sold.[10] In 2020 the boats were moored in Rotherhithe.[11]

References
  1. "Couper Collection". Charity Commission.
  2. "Judi Dench protests against floating art gallery eviction".
  3. "The Times & The Sunday Times".
  4. "Couper & Anor v Albion Properties Limited & Ors [2013] EWHC 2993 (Ch)". Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  5. "The Couper Collection". Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  6. "Charity Commission: Couper Collection Charitable Trust". Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  7. "Couper & Anor v Albion Properties Limited & Ors [2017] EWHC 22 (Ch) at 1". Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  8. "Couper & Anor v Albion Properties Limited & Ors [2017] EWHC 22 (Ch) at 100". Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  9. "Couper v Irwin Mitchell LLP & Ors [2017] EWHC 3231 (Ch)". Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  10. "Couper & Anor v Albion Properties Limited & Ors [2017] EWHC 22 (Ch) at 17". Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  11. "Twitter: Couper Collection barges in Rotherhithe". Retrieved 22 November 2020.

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