The art of government is revealed

The Government's private collection of art, founded in 1898, is to be thrown open for a rare public viewing.

A storehouse where works of art bought by successive governments over the past 100 years are stockpiled, it is being opened as part of the annual London Open House weekend.

Over the two days a string of buildings usually closed to the public will welcome visitors through their doors.

The news that the government collection will take part comes after an almost unanimous savaging by critics for the "bland" pieces selected from it to hang in 10 Downing Street by Gordon Brown.

Evening Standard critic Brian Sewell dismissed them as "unnoticeable pictures by painters deservedly unremarkable, neglected and unknown". He condemned the collection itself as a "haphazard, random, arbitrary and disorderly agglomeration" with many second-rate works.

Penny Johnson, the collection's director, today defended the 1,300 works in her care as "a working collection" with a different purpose from those in the Tate or the National Gallery. Up to 80 per cent of the pieces are in use - or on loan to public exhibitions - at any one time.

She added: "We have to take account of cultural, political and other sensitivities. Often it is a case of what will fit a particular space."

Ms Johnson was responsible for helpingto choose works for the public areas in Downing Street after talks with the Prime Minister's aides. She defended the mix of paintings, sketches and cartoons, saying some landscapes were "rather interesting".

Members of today's Government have been keen on modern and contemporary art but the previous Conservative government was not. Hunting scenes are now out of favour.

No more than 300 visitors will be allowed to visit tomorrow and Sunday to see the conservation facilities. The collection is in central London but the venue will be revealed only to those who apply successfully for tickets.

Other buildings open to the public this weekend include 30 St Mary Axe - the Gherkin, the Lloyd's building, the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich and the Thames Barrier.

www.londonopenhouse.org