TWO of the UK’s most influential cultural bodies have called for Southampton’s great art sell-off to be stopped.

The row casts doubt over the city council’s plans to open a new heritage museum and special arts exhibition on the west wing of the Civic Centre in 2012.

As first revealed by the Daily Echo, Tory civic bosses hoped to fund a third of the £15m cost by disposing of works by British artist Alfred Munnings and French sculptor Auguste Rodin.

However, the Museums Association (MA) said the sale did not meet their strict code of ethics, while the Tate – home of the national art collection – also condemned the move.

Campaigners, who last week presented a petition with 2,500 names opposing the sell-off, last night called for the council to rethink the proposal.

Save Our Collection spokesman Mary Lloyd said: “Our stance has been vindicated. We are not alone in thinking the city council’s proposals are unethical, undemocratic and ill-thought through.”

Councillor John Hannides, Southampton’s leisure boss, last night remained confident the sale would still go-ahead. But winning the support of the arts bodies is vital to ensure the council doesn’t jeopardise future funding and the city’s reputation in the art world.

The MA told the city council this week that they were “not persuaded” the art sale was the only way the authority could fund the proposed Sea City museum.

Caitlin Griffiths, the MA’s head of professional issues, said: “The key requirement that they have not met at this time is that all other funding sources should be explored and any sale should be a last resort.”

The MA’s ethics committee said that should renewed attempts to raise funds from other sources fail by the middle of next year, they would be “more ready” to approve the sale.

Councillor Hannides, Cabinet member for leisure, culture and heritage, said new evidence would be presented to the MA next month to prove all sources of funding had already been thoroughly explored. He said the council had originally intended to fund the museum by selling council-owned sites, but falling land prices meant it could not raise the necessary funds.

Cllr Hannides was also encouraged the MA had agreed that the sale – and the museum it would help pay for – would “significantly improve” the public’s access to the city’s art, archaeology and maritime collections.

The controversy follows a three-year campaign by the Daily Echo to sell some works of art to pay for new cultural projects.

The items proposed for sale are both from a bequest fund set up by former city councillor Robert Chipperfield, who in 1911 left funding to build a gallery. A statement from the Tate, which has responsibility for providing advice in relation to the bequest, said: “We believe the sale of works acquired through the Chipperfield Bequest to raise funds towards a capital project is not advisable and, indeed, not in the spirit of the Bequest.”

The Conservatives are now awaiting permission from the Attorney General, Baroness Scotland, and the powerful Museums, Libraries and Archives Council to sell the works.