In November 2004 a number of questions were submitted to the Lenkiewicz Foundation by users of the lenkiewicz.org site. Below are the responses:

Question: Who are the members of the Lenkiewicz Foundation AND the Lenkiewicz Foundation Trust? Are the members elected or selected? By whom? Do you have, or are you planning to have, a web presence?

Answer: Annie Hill-Smith, John Nash, Anna Navas, Clive Lambert, Lawrie Cleary, Aury Shoa, Anna Jones, Esther Dallaway, John Warren, Mike Beveridge and John Lenkiewicz are Trustees of The Lenkiewicz Foundation. Trustee means the same as Director in this case. TLF is a Company as well as being a Charity and thus it has Directors. The Lenkiewicz Foundation Trust is a permanent endowment Trust and a registered Charity. It has a sole Trustee. Its sole Trustee is TLF.

Directors are neither elected nor selected. The Board occasionally receives expressions of interest from people and also occasionally identifies skill shortages. It may then invite people to express interest! When this happens, Trustees discuss the situation with the interested party and if he/she is still interested [and has relevant skills] he/she will be asked to come along to a meeting and essentially say what they think they can offer. Trustees then vote.

We don’t exactly have a web presence [but see ROLenkiewicz.co.uk] and realise that we should do.

Question: Please explain the roles of, and interaction between, the two registered charities - the Lenkiewicz Foundation and the Lenkiewicz Foundation Trust.

Answer: Just to enlarge on the description above …. TLF has the following objects [a] To advance the education of the public in aesthetic appreciation and the study of human behaviour:

1. By the maintenance and provision of a library containing the collection of books, writings, paintings and other artefacts of Robert Lenkiewicz:
2. By the education, encouragement, funding, teaching and training of artists and scholars who wish to undertake research into human behaviour or to improve their artistic or philosophical standards or tastes:
3. By making available reading rooms, studios and other facilities for the use and benefit of such persons:
4. By acquiring and preserving for the benefit of the public books, paintings, and artefacts of antiquity, rarity of significant value relevant to the study of human behaviour.

[b] To provide relief to the poor, the infirm and the aged and in particular by the provision of a Christmas Day meal in the City of Plymouth.

As a Charity, TLF has to act in furtherance of its objects.

TLFT was incorporated to hold property upon Trust for the support or promotion of the objects of TLF. TLFT was created in order to act as a safe container for assets. When assets come into TLFT, their value must be retained within the container of the Trust.

Question: What previous fundraising experience do members of the Lenkiewicz Foundation have?

Answer: Variable. Some have quite a lot, some have none. Fundraising as everyone will be aware is a serious business. Most charities would like to have skilled, experienced, dedicated fundraisers on their team who are willing to work pro bono! Ah well … we can all dream!

Question: I am wondering what happened to his reference library. I have the two catalogues from Sotheby's of his more expensive books, but have seen nothing of the others. any ideas?

Answer: If you have seen the Sotheby’s catalogue you will know what, tragically, is NOT in the Libraries any more. The rest is still as it was.

Question: Is it possible to have a list of the remaining unsold items available to the Foundation. Are there any images of these works available?

Answer: Do you mean paintings? Using an expression like “available to the Foundation” is not quite the way that it is. The Executor has responsibility for managing the Estate. When he has completed this task he can ‘execute’ the Will. What paintings remain in the Estate ‘at the end’ will come to TLF under the terms of the Will. There are photographs of most of the things in the Estate [these were created when the Executor was cataloguing for the purposes of probate] but they are of variable quality.

Question: Will the Foundation be opening a viewing centre at the studio on the Barbican once Robert's debts are sorted out?

Answer: The short answer to this is … probably no. Robert never owned the building and it was bought by a local property dealer/developer after Robert died. TLF would like nothing better than to be able to re-open these premises [this was always the plan] but it’s hard to see how this will be possible.

Question: Please could you tell me the whereabouts of Mr Lenkiewicz’s portrait oil on canvas ‘ROBBIE’. I am the subject’s sister.

Answer: It’s still within the Estate. Robbie came in and talked to us about it. It’s a lovely painting. If we could have it in our collection we’d be delighted.

Question: Have all the studios Robert worked in been found? What will happen to them? Should they be marked in some way (i.e. with a plaque)?

Answer: We don’t really know! Perhaps there are secret studios full of wonderful paintings but now it seems unlikely. Robert liked to tell people that he had private places and that fed the idea that there could be more studios and more paintings but there have been careful investigations and the Executor believes that all those that were in use at the time of Robert’s death have been located. Robert would also say that he’d given paintings to various people in order to keep these paintings safe and that he’d instructed these people to give them to the Foundation at some time after his death. This has also not happened. It does seem rather unlikely because Robert didn’t generally like to part with paintings [unless he’d specifically painted them in order to sell them] especially if they’d been earmarked for the Foundation. As to marking places with plaques … what do you think?

Question: Robert religiously fed the poor on Christmas Day since the 1970s. Will the Foundation continue with this super kind gesture? This could be a chance of combining remembering Robert, feeding the needy and inviting all his fans for a get-together. Just a thought.

Answer: See above. We can do this [i.e. our objects allow us to] but of course anyone can do it. For some of us it had become a regular event very much associated with Robert. It was always a very practical thing for him, not having much of a spiritual or social component, really just an humanitarian gesture. Those who were associated with him and often involved with this activity would probably find that it brought up distressing resonances.

Question: Will the Foundation have to hold more sales/auctions of Lenkiewicz's artwork to raise money?

Answer: See above. It is very important to understand that The Foundation has got NOTHING TO DO WITH THE AUCTIONS. These sales are Executor’s sales. Trustees regret everything that is sold [some more than others] but accept that the Executor must sell things. Robert’s work also comes up at all sorts of sales and auctions on a regular basis – this is what one could call the secondary market and is just normal trading activity. The Foundation would be extremely unlikely to sell any works that it owned, after all, see Object A [i] above, we want to make work available and do not see ourselves as traders in the Lenkiewicz market. We are a Charity.

Question: When will the public be able to see the paintings and drawings of Lenkiewicz that the Foundation has held on to? Couldn't these be open to the public now, raising money for the Foundation and thus halting the sale and loss of Lenkiewicz's art from the public?

Answer: See above. Until the Executor has wound up the Estate and executed the Will the Foundation has no paintings [or, at least, none from the Estate]. There is no certainty as yet that TLF will get a single painting or drawing from the Estate. We just do not know and we will not know until the Executor has finished his task. The Executor could choose to lend paintings to TLF [if we had suitable premises to house them] or to any other entity that could protect them, insure them and display them securely. Remember that he will not see it as part of his job to spend any money that is not in direct furtherance of his task. Nor would it be proper for him so to do as his first responsibility at present is to the Estate’s creditors. Anyone could lend paintings to TLF [and many collectors have come forward and offered to do so]. Our longer term objectives of course are to show the work and to show it in a way that provokes thought and gladdens the eye – it’s just getting to that point ……

Question: How much debt has the Foundation still to clear from Lenkiewicz’s estate?

Answer: None. See above. It’s nothing to do with TLF. It’s the Executor’s job to clear debts. We don’t know how many liabilities still remain.

Question: How many paintings, books etc of Lenkiewicz’s are left? Rumours say that there aren't many left - thus making a poor museum to Lenkiewicz's life and works.

Answer: Rough estimate [as of today] 100 – 200 paintings drawings etc. 20,000 – 30,000 books. Only quite a small number of books were sold. Unhappily, it’s not just a question of numbers. Sadly, many paintings that we would have wanted to be in our collection will now be in other people’s but they do still exist in the world and, as we have said above, many collectors are willing to lend. If we can create the museum then I think we can find the paintings. One good piece of news is that the paintings that were stolen have been recovered and some of the important ones are not yet sold.

Question: Will the Mayflower centre be turned into a museum dedicated to the works of Robert, and to house his vast library? I know that this was an idea some time ago, but I haven’t heard any more on it, as the press where I live very rarely contain Lenkiewicz information. Secondly will there be a chance for the Foundation members to have a meeting or something like it, to voice their views on keeping Robert's legacy alive in Plymouth (as a museum dedicated to him etc...)?

Answer: Interesting question. The Mayflower would have been a great opportunity for TLF. An imaginative gesture from City Councillors that ultimately ‘snagged’ on the need to ‘put the matter to tender’. Hmmm! TLF can’t really compete against power and wealth [and beaurocracy]. We are pretty poor and when it came down to it, it turned out that we didn’t really have the right sort of power either! So that possibility [which could have been fantastic for us] slipped out of our hands. When you say “members” I guess you mean the Friends of The Lenkiewicz Foundation. Friends do meet every now and again. If we do succeed in securing a large and suitable [and economical] space – a meeting for fellow travellers/supporters would be an excellent notion. If we don’t succeed in acquiring a decent space [in the near future] have you got any other ideas?

Question: Are there any plans to open Robert’s studio to the public, or at least the Foundation? I understand that the executor has control over access, but will the control of Robert’s studio be handed back to the Foundation in the future? As a member of the Lenkiewicz Foundation I would love to see where Robert worked, as I did not ever get the chance to when he was alive.

Answer: See above. Again, no [unhappily] is the short answer. The studio has never been in TLF’s hands. When the Executor has completed his task, he will surrender his tenancy on the building. The present owner will then be able to take possession of it and he will choose what he wants to do with it. TLF has no say and is not likely to have any say. If we had money we would have bought it. The present owner is very committed to the Barbican area and also to ‘keeping Robert on the Barbican’. TLF would like nothing better than to work with him. He understands that we are a Charity with a set of Objects etc. and he knows what we would like to achieve. Maybe he’ll contribute to the
Debate on this web site!

Question: We already own a framed picture of Lisa which is superb and we purchased 3 more at the sale. Question is where can we purchase the framing material please? Lisa is a family favourite for us why the attraction at the auction?

Answer: Do you know that Lisa is a painter? You can see her work at New Street Gallery [among other places]. Various framing centres will have versions of the framing style; you probably know that the tulip wood is quite heavy! I don’t know if she reads this site but if she does, I hope she’ll be pleased with your comments!

Question: Would it not be possible to submit the paintings still in the Foundation's ownership to be photographed for a book? The sale of limited copies could raise funds for the Foundation.

Answer. See above. PAINTINGS ARE NOT IN TLF’S OWNERSHIP! They are held in the Estate. This question also brings the very technical matter of copyright to the fore. Basically, copyright of all the work is also held by the Estate. The only person who can authorise ANY reproduction of ANY item is the Executor [by means of a copyright licence]. The Executor takes any breach of copyright very seriously. Additionally, as explained above, his task is to sort out the Estate and not to benefit TLF. We could ask him for a copyright licence and produce such a book [it’s a great idea]; our trouble is that it would be a costly project and we are very poor. Trustees make decisions about best ways forward. I think it likely that they would say that we could not end our money on this – at the moment.

Question: if a venue could be found, would it be possible to gather as many original oils as possible for display purposes? I am sure it could be arranged for paintings in private collections to be displayed alongside the remaining works. After all, over 5000 people attended the last Bearne’s viewing, so, there is obviously a demand to see the paintings.

Answer: Yes. We’d love to do this. You’ll be able to tell from all the other answers that if/when we have a space [as we are now out of the Annexe] and if/when we can afford it … this is what we will do.

Question: Could the Foundation work in association with Liverpool City Council, to attain permission to exhibit the paintings in Liverpool? Liverpool will be the European city of culture for 2008, so a major attraction such as Lenkiewicz originals would be an added bonus.

Answer: Yes. This would be within our Objects & sounds like a great idea. Are you by any chance the Curator of a fabulous big space in Liverpool?

Question: A request this time, not a question! The lenkiewicz.org website contains a database of many Lenkiewicz paintings. However some of the very best works are not on file. Could the Foundation provide the webmaster with photographs of the remaining paintings, those considered to be among Robert Lenkiewicz's best works?

Answer: Another interesting one. What does the Executor think of the fact that Estate images are being published on Lenkiewicz.org? I don’t know. Who would sit on the group that would decide which works are the best? TLF does not have access to ‘the best’ at present – we MAY [contingent on there being anything left at the end] have some images when the Estate is wound up but if we had copyright we’d need to ask advice as to how we should proceed. It would be a matter for the entire Board to consider.

Question: It would be really nice to see regular updates posted on the official website - I think everyone is interested in where the Foundation is in terms of the estate and also what the Foundation is doing / thinking / feeling about current issues . For example, a reaction to the extraordinary Westpoint sale.

Answer: Yeah. You’re right. You need to remember that ‘TLF’ is a Board [see above] and almost by definition doesn’t have feelings! What tends to happen is that someone gives a reaction to the Herald which probably is quite anodyne. Also, this is quite a fast moving, technical and bumpy landscape. We should ‘do’ reaction pieces. Sometimes we are sad, sometimes we are shocked. Most of us are still profoundly affected by the loss of Robert and some of us have felt, as individuals, that we are really quite exposed and so maybe we can be defensive. However … one of us could take on the task of regular updates. How about it my fellow Trustees?

Question: Would it not be plausible for the Foundation to set up a commission based system for selling secondhand prints - this would ensure that the Foundation is one of the first places where buyers look and would also reassure any issues of authenticity. Furthermore, this would provide a potential source of revenue and also increase the merchandise available from the Foundation.

Answer: What a potentially good idea. Would you like to take on this job as a volunteer?

Question: I would like to know if the Foundation plan to make more use of their website in future. They could use it to sell what items they do have to raise money, to keep in touch with their friends/members and to sell themselves to potential sponsors and investors. Why not at least try to realise Robert’s vision in cyberspace whilst the wrangling over the estate continues.

Answer: See above. Would you like to take on this job as a volunteer? We are short staffed and almost everything is done on a voluntary basis by people who do not have this web-master’s capabilities and computer literacy.

Question: What do you think the Foundation has achieved since Robert’s death? Are you happy with what you have achieved?

Answer: Phew. This is like an A-level question. We are still here and that is an achievement. No, I don’t suppose the Board would be happy with the way things have gone. It’s hard to overestimate the difficulties that we have had. It’s been very hard and as of today’s date there’s not really been much in the way of good news.

Question: With hindsight, has the Foundation made any decisions/actions that you now regret?

Answer: Loads

Question: Now that it is looking increasingly likely that the Foundation will inherit little from the estate, where do you see yourselves in 5 years time?

Answer: With a small amount of everything and working to survive.

Question: Is the Foundation currently applying for funding (for example from the Lottery)?

Answer: Short answer, no. But no doubt we will when this stage is over.

Question: Do you find that most people are supportive of the Foundation?

Answer: Yes, mostly. But there is still a lot of confusion between the Estate and The Foundation which is frustrating. Following on from this, people are sometimes very upset by the loss of Legacy and ‘blame’ us for this. It is a difficult situation. It is the Executor’s task to resolve the Estate and he has had to raise money. If TLF had secured funding it could have bought things in the auctions. We did apply to the Lottery for funds to save the Legacy and, having encouraged us to apply, they then told us that they were “not prioritising acquisitions”. It is VERY hard to get money for things that we could inherit. We are in an intolerable catch 22.

Question: What do you see as the most significant barrier to achieving your goals?

Answer: The Estate’s debts. Not having a couple of million pounds.