As both a rate-payer and gallery staff member, being able to view and collectively 'own' these works is a source of lasting pride. And let's face it; many of these works will be out of the average non-lotto-winners budget.
Recent 'events' broke work by some of these artists that we were lucky enough to have had in our own home collection: the fact the gallery's works survived so well therefore has an added, personal value.