Spain outraged by cost of art for UN

Spain is embroiled in a furious row over a wildly expensive artwork at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva for which the Spanish taxpayer has contributed millions of euros, including a sizeable tranche taken from the overseas aid budget.

The new Room of Human Rights and the Alliance of Civilisations, a spectacular cave dripping with multicoloured stalactites and described as the Sistine Chapel of the 21st century, was created by the artist Miquel Barcelo and is to be inaugurated on Tuesday by Spain's King and Queen.

But the early plaudits for this vast space swiftly became cries of outrage as news emerged that the Spanish government was contributing €8m (£5.3m) from the public purse, including €500,000 lifted from the aid budget for developing countries.

The Foreign Minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos, declined to specify the final cost. "Only fools confuse value and price. This project is a new way of doing diplomacy and foreign policy," he said, adding that the taxpayer would contribute 40 per cent and a dozen Spanish companies raising the remainder.

About €11m has reportedly already been raised, which would mean Spain's public purse is lighter by €4.4m. But at least one corporate sponsor has pulled out. And Spain missed the deadline for completion so it has had to pay for alternative accommodation for meetings and conferences.

The deputy Prime Minister, Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega, fearful of the political fallout, has demanded full financial disclosure.