It has been suggested that an apology is owed. We have reviewed the suggestion, found it tiresome, and decided to apologise anyway, in the grand institutional tradition of saying sorry while making it your problem.
The Apology
We are sorry.
That is the apology. We feel it stands on its own and gains nothing from elaboration, much like a good abstract painting or a poorly attended retrospective.
What We Are Not Apologising For
To prevent misunderstanding, we wish to clarify that this apology does not extend to:
- The wall labels. The wall labels were correct, and history will agree.
- The pricing. The pricing reflects the work's importance, which we determine.
- Anything Nigel said at the opening, which was, in context, generous.
On Closure
Some have asked whether this apology brings the matter to a close. It does not. The matter was never open. We have apologised pre-emptively, for something unspecified, so that the goodwill is banked and available for later use.
We consider the incident (whatever it was) fully resolved, and we thank the public for its understanding, which we did not request and will not acknowledge again.
The Committee, with a heavy heart and an empty conscience