SOUTHAMPTON, England—Deaccessioning has been big news in the United States recently, as institutions have considered selling works from their collections. It's also controversial in England, where the Southampton City Council is facing new opposition to its plans to sell a Rodin sculpture and a Sir Alfred Munnings painting to pay for a proposed Titanic exhibition and a new art gallery.

Southampton hopes to raise £5 million ($7.9 million) by selling Rodin’s casting of Eve and the Munnings hunting scene to cover a shortfall in fundraising for the Titanic exhibition — which will include a replica of a portion of the ship — and the gallery expansion. The council argues that the new art gallery will allow greater access to the public collection, which includes 3,500 pieces. Space restrictions mean that only about 200 works are now on display at any one time.

But now the Tate Britain and the Museums Association, a museum industry group, have questioned the council’s decision to sell works to help pay for the capital improvements. The Tate, which provides advice for the trust that established the Southampton gallery in 1911, says the decision is contrary to the wishes of the donors of the works to be sold, noting that such sales should be used only as a last resort.

The Museum Association is expected to demand further research by the council into other funding avenues, delaying any potential sale for at least a year. Such a sale would require the consent of the attorney general; the Baroness Scotland; and the Museums, Libraries, and Archives Council.

Read more at the London Guardian.