英国三件班克西(Banksy)街头艺术作品的维护成本已接近150,000英镑，成为公众讨论这位艺术家作品价值的焦点。[1]其中，皇家法院的壁画——描绘法官殴打抗议者的形象——花费最高，清洁费用达50,000英镑，安保和加班费另需35,000英镑。[1]滑铁卢广场的雕像相关支出接近60,000英镑，主要用于安装屏障和保安。[1]此外，伦敦市警察哨所上的班克西作品移除成本为2,200英镑。[1]
围绕这些支出，政界与艺术界观点分歧明显。影子司法秘书尼克·蒂莫西(Nick Timothy)指责这一现象"令人发指"，主张艺术家应承担相关费用。[1]相比之下，艺术评论家埃斯特尔·洛瓦特(Estelle Lovatt)为班克西作品进行了辩护，认为其带来了旅游效益并提高了艺术的可及性。[1]在技术层面，皇家法院壁画的清除初期尝试失败，后改用激光技术处理，若效果不佳还需考虑其他方法或更换受损石材。[1]由于皇家法院是二级保护建筑，需维持其原有特征，这进一步增加了处置难度。[1]
Three street artworks by Banksy have accumulated nearly £150,000 in public expenses through cleaning, security, and removal costs, sparking debate over whether the pieces constitute vandalism or valuable public art.[1]
The Royal Courts of Justice mural, depicting a judge striking a protester, has been the costliest to maintain, requiring £50,000 in cleaning expenses and £35,000 in security and overtime fees.[1] A statue at Waterloo Place has generated approximately £60,000 in costs associated with barrier installation and security measures, while the removal of a work from a police box cost £2,200.[1]
The expense has drawn criticism from Nick Timothy, shadow justice secretary, who called the situation "outrageous" and argued that the artist should bear responsibility for the costs.[1] Initial attempts to remove the Royal Courts mural proved unsuccessful; authorities have since shifted to laser technology, with contingency plans to either pursue alternative removal methods or replace damaged stonework if the laser approach proves inadequate.[1] The Royal Courts building is a Grade II listed structure, requiring that its original characteristics be preserved.[1] Art critic Estelle Lovatt has defended Banksy's work, noting that the pieces generate tourism revenue and enhance public access to art.[1]