Monday, May 27, 2019

Tell me again about the public trust (300 Chinese artworks edition) (UPDATED)

The Art Institute is selling 300 works that, having fallen under the aegis of a museum, are not held in the public trust for present and future generations and will not cause potential donors to ask themselves "Why should I give this to you?  What guarantee do I have that you're not going to sell this tomorrow?"

It's really a fortunate thing that museums do not hold works in the public trust and so are able to make these kinds of sales when necessary.

UPDATE:  It's a deaccessioning "spree."