Banksy donates two works to Bristol museum

Banksy has donated two of the works featured in his hugely popular summer exhibition to the Bristol museum that hosted it.

The elusive Bristol graffiti artist has allowed a statue of an angel with a bucket of pink paint on its head and a modified model of Jerusalem to remain as exhibits at the City Museum and Art Gallery in Park Street.

The Jerusalem model was carved from olive wood by Palestinian artist Tawfiq Salsaa, then bought by Banksy, who modified it by putting plastic soldiers and watchtowers along the walls.

It is not yet clear whether the pieces would be owned by the museum or on permanent loan but the angel can already be seen in the museum lobby.

More than 300,000 people went to see the Banksy vs Bristol Museum exhibition between June and August.

It was the most popular event the city has seen for years, bringing an estimated £15 million into the local economy.

The exhibits should ensure the museum will continue to attract visitors interested in the enigmatic artist's work.

And this early Christmas present is not the only good news the museum has had recently.

The Evening Post can reveal the gallery has received £1 million in arts funding to buy contemporary art from around the world.

Acting head of museum service Paul Barnett also confirmed the museum will definitely stay open once the £26 million M-Shed opens in two years' time.

There was speculation the Park Street museum could close if the Museum of Bristol Project, currently being built on the site of the former Industrial Museum at Harbourside, became the city's main exhibition site.

Instead it will be given a distinct identity, with more focus on art and work by Bristol artists. It is expected to be renamed Bristol Museum and Art Gallery.

The whole of the museum service is undergoing a makeover in a bid to attract more visitors and funding.

Mr Barnett said: "Bristol doesn't have enough high quality, world class art exhibitions.

"We are talking to other Bristol artists who could do something like Banksy. We've got some fantastic art collections but they are historic.

"This million quid, which we have five years to spend, is fantastic.

"We will be doing it in partnership with the Arnolfini, with exhibitions at both."

Banksy agreed to do the show at the museum for a token fee of £1.

He began work as a graffiti artist in Bristol in the early 1990s, but has become a household name in the last decade.

Banksy's spokesman was unavailable for comment.