“It’s kind of like a baker who decides to sell off his oven to satisfy his debts. Once the oven is gone, what’s left for the baker to do?”
Detroit is struggling with more than $15 billion in debt and as the city attempts to straighten out their finances, some have turned an eye to the valuable art held at the Detroit Museum. Kevyn Orr, the state-appointed emergency manager, has asked the museum to inventory its works with the possibility of selling on his mind. While many in the art world have spoken out against this, it is not the first time an institution has considered selling works. Since the stock market plunged, a handful of museums contemplated selling works and the temptation is even greater for universities who are struggling. Fisk University (TN), Randolph College (VA) and even the Field Museum in Chicago have given up major works or agreed to sell a share in their collections.
Selling off works unquestionably damages a museum’s reputation, it may lead to fewer visitors or even fewer donations. When a donation is made, the donor never has the expectation that the donated works will be sold off to profit the museum or the city. I would not be surprised if we begin to see guidelines worked into donation agreements that prohibit works from being sold in the future.
