George Michael’s charity hands out just £550,000 of £11million made from sales of his artwork
A GEORGE Michael charity which sold the ex-Wham! star’s paintings and artworks for £11.2million has so far handed out just £550,000.
The singer’s Mill Charitable Trust auctioned the bequeathed collection, with pieces by Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin and Bridget Riley, through Christie’s in 2019.
It gave out £423,153 last year and £124,619 in 2020 — £547,772 in all — but ran up £3million in costs, leaving £7.46million from the sale.
Charity Commission accounts show £1.3million went on art consultancy, £802,000 on commission, £732,000 on freight and £379,500 on advertising and promotion.
Other costs included £5,600 on a video producer, £3,800 on audio and editing, £35,338 on repairs and £1,635 on “wardrobe”.
Christie’s said the sale proceeds would “extend the philanthropic legacy” of George, who gave to various charities during his life.
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The Careless Whisper star, who died aged 53 on Christmas Day in 2016, gave to Childline and Cancer Research among others.
He left the bulk of his £97million estate to sisters Yioda, 60, and Melanie, who died aged 55 in 2019.
Yioda is secretary of The Mill Charitable Trust, which George set up in 2009, and one of its three trustees.
The accounts say the secretary interviews grant applicants and assesses their cases.
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“The papers say trust policy is to “maintain unrestricted funds . . . at a level sufficient to respond to emergency applications”.
A spokesman for George’s estate said of the artworks’ auction: “There were third party costs which had to be incurred in order to sell the works for their full market value.
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“Those costs are reflected in the accounts filed for the charity.”
The spokesman said the sale’s “principal sum” had been invested in accordance with the charity’s policy — “and the trustees meet on a regular basis to decide on the donations that are to be made each year from the income generated by that investment”.
