tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75753232334074629742024-03-13T00:58:05.480-04:00The Deaccessioning BlogThe Deaccessioning Blog is a project begun by Sergio Muñoz Sarmiento to both analyze and archive the increasing institutional deaccessioning of modern and contemporary art.Sergio Muñoz Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365215427617702363noreply@blogger.comBlogger204125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575323233407462974.post-28041422420629417412015-04-07T08:28:00.000-04:002015-04-07T08:29:43.245-04:00Financial Crisis Provokes Deaccessioning in Europe<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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The <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/05/arts/design/seeing-a-cash-cow-in-museums-precious-art.html?hpw&rref=arts&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well&_r=0">New
York Times</a> reports on a trend among European museums to sell part of their
collections to pay for acquisitions or meet other financial obligations as
government cultural subsidies have been cut back. Other museums have sold
artworks to offset the costs of failed state banks or other state debts. Whether
the sales fund acquisitions or government budget cuts has significant
consequences. </div>
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<br /></div>
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In Britain, the Northampton Museum <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-28602849">lost its
accreditation</a> and eligibility for national grants when it sold an Egyptian
statue to fund a museum construction project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The British Museums Association questioned whether the money would be
used for this purpose and disapproved of its use to offset budget cuts by the
central government. The national Museums Association and ten other arts
organizations, including the Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund,
have <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-32084263">announced</a>
that they will not work with museums who sell works for this purpose because it
constitutes “a breach of trust with the public,” the public trust argument <a href="http://theartlawblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/theres-rub.html">previously gutted</a>
by Donn Zaretsky. </div>
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In Germany, the sale of 400 works from the collection of a
government-owned bank which folded in 2012 is <a href="https://news.artnet.com/in-brief/german-officials-hope-to-save-portigon-ags-state-owned-art-collection-from-deaccession-260787">currently
debated</a> by politicians, art experts, and local authorities. In November, a
state-owned casino, WestSpiel, <a href="http://www.citylab.com/design/2014/11/arts-advocates-are-mad-that-a-german-casino-sold-its-warhols/382741/">sold
two Andy Warhol silk screens</a> to fund another casino in Cologne. </div>
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French lawmakers have proposed the sale of artworks in
storage at the Louvre. France may limit the works that can be sold to those
that are duplicate works, not part of a core collection, the proceeds of which
can only be used for future acquisitions. However, often <a href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/rembrandt-portraits-rothschild-france-278667">the
first consequence</a> of falling subsidies is cuts of acquisitions funds; this model treats a
symptom of the same underlying issue. </div>
Sergio Muñoz Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365215427617702363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575323233407462974.post-49654422614528758612014-08-12T22:15:00.000-04:002014-08-12T22:15:00.092-04:00Unfortunately Not All Things Considered on NPR's Deaccessioning TakeGreetings.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.npr.org/2014/08/11/339532879/as-museums-try-to-make-ends-meet-deaccession-is-the-art-worlds-dirty-word" target="_blank">Here's a story NPR ran on deaccessioning yesterday</a>, on their nationwide radio show, "All Things Considered."<br />
<br />
I was initially approached for an interview concerning this story, but was not contacted again. This is unfortunate, not because I want my voice heard across all 50 states (or 57 if you're Obama), but because I think a hot and controversial issue such as deaccessioning should be approached in multiple ways, but also with as many diverse viewpoints as possible.<br />
<br />
This issue is not one of simply selling or not selling; it's much more complicated than that. Granted, five minutes is not fifty minutes, but it's also ample time to present at least two positions with a third commentary on both.<br />
<br />
I hope that next time NPR decides to tackle deaccessioning they tak a more nuanced and objective approach to this timely issue and to other art law matters.Sergio Muñoz Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365215427617702363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575323233407462974.post-32193811835975592762014-07-16T13:32:00.000-04:002014-07-16T13:32:07.716-04:00"Anyone who looks upon DIA as an ATM will be in for a shock."I know. I haven't been posting here often but probably because, to be completely honest, the deaccessioning battle has pretty much been boiled down to sell and don't sell. There's very little interesting "stuff" being written about the philosophical aspects of relinquishing art and cultural objects for money, so why continue to simply post about institutions that do or do not do it, and those that get chastised for doing it.<br />
<br />
Especially when bloggers like Donn Zaretsky have pretty much <a href="http://theartlawblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/tweet-of-day.html" target="_blank">eviscerated the "public trust" argument</a> to a myopic piece of Deathstar dust. Donn's got great arguments on his blog, and they're not knee-jerk reactions like the ones we tend to get from the deaccessioning police or, as I like to call them, those that shriek a deaccessioning fatwa. <a href="http://theartlawblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/though-choice-to-sell-was-difficult.html" target="_blank">Check him out</a>.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Detroit. Yeah, what's up with Detroit? Here's <a href="http:/" target="_blank">a nice little argument</a> from Eric Gibson of the WSJ arguing that creditors and pensioners should take what's on the table now given the unpredictable nature of the contemporary art market.<br />
<br />
Hmmm, maybe. What do you think?Sergio Muñoz Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365215427617702363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575323233407462974.post-48608943924730474572014-04-08T09:14:00.001-04:002014-04-08T09:14:45.617-04:00Deaccessioning in a Nutshell<a href="http://www.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/1021209/opportunity-knocks-brothers-in-law-on-deaccessioning" target="_blank">A nice and brief overview of the current state of deaccessioning...and the pitfalls</a>, via Charles and Thomas Danziger. Nice hypo!Sergio Muñoz Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365215427617702363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575323233407462974.post-11080910891762560762014-03-31T13:14:00.003-04:002014-03-31T13:14:32.612-04:00Portugal Ponders the Sale of Their Joan Miró PaintingsOr I should say, the deaccessioning. Portugal is trying to pay off it's $110 billion debt, but if the Miró paintings only brought in $50 million or so, what kind of dent would that even make?<br />
<br />
Via <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/27/world/europe/portugals-move-to-sell-miro-works-raises-debate-of-preservation-vs-privatization.html" target="_blank">the paper of record</a>.Sergio Muñoz Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365215427617702363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575323233407462974.post-18057145438840264292014-01-18T16:22:00.002-05:002014-01-18T16:22:31.451-05:00Christopher Knight on LA MoCA's New Director and Deaccessioning LA Times Art Critic Christopher Knight <a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-moca-notebook-20140118,0,5029038.story?page=2&utm_medium=twitter&dlvrit=175674&utm_source=dlvr.it&track=rss#axzz2qmbmkfvk" target="_blank">discusses</a> LA MoCA's new director, Jules Vergne, and deaccessioning.Sergio Muñoz Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365215427617702363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575323233407462974.post-41907960295392446122013-12-18T16:59:00.000-05:002013-12-18T16:59:30.360-05:00To sell or not to sell? Should the Detroit Institute of Art's collection, or at least 5% of it, be sold?<br />
<br />
The Journal Times <a href="https://www.google.com/analytics/web/?hl=en#report/visitors-network/a34729989w62366240p63915968/%3F_u.date00%3D20131218%26_u.date01%3D20131218/" target="_blank">says "yes."</a><br />
<br />
The Daily Caller says "yes," and <a href="http://dailycaller.com/2013/12/18/dismember-detroit-for-pensioners-and-public-services-sell-the-art-and-belle-isle-too/" target="_blank">add Belle Isle to the mix</a>. On why the art should be sold, "Sure, the DIA is a wonderful feature for the midwestern city. But even
more charming is a city with streetlights that work, garbage that is
collected, and a police force that can keep a city safe."<br />
<br />
We will know <a href="http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/18/final-appraisal-of-detroit-institute-art-to-be-released-thursday/" target="_blank">the value of 5% of the collection</a> tomorrow.Sergio Muñoz Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365215427617702363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575323233407462974.post-44726911049025962842013-12-04T14:38:00.001-05:002013-12-08T15:05:12.535-05:00Christie's values Detroit's art collection between $452 and $866 millionYep. That's million. Guess they don't have any Francis Bacons lying around, just a few masterpieces by Bruegel, van Gogh and Cézanne.<br />
<br />
Today, Christie's said it has appraised
<i>some</i> of the Detroit Institute of Arts' collection and said the works
had a fair market value of $452 million to $866 million. It also
suggested five alternatives to selling, which would allow the city to
benefit financially while keeping the DIA collection intact.<br />
<br />
And what are those <a href="http://t.nbcnews.com/business/detroit-art-sale-could-raise-866-million-auction-house-says-2D11690924" target="_blank">five alternatives</a>? Let's just say the first one is, as some say, robbing Peter to pay Paul (is that the quote?). Detroit can use the collection as collateral for loans, and given Detroit's impeccable history in paying off debts this will most likely get the vote for best solution.<br />
<br />
File this under "Great solutions in history."Sergio Muñoz Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365215427617702363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575323233407462974.post-6299965244961415792013-12-04T01:02:00.002-05:002013-12-04T01:10:01.018-05:00Let them eat art! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yOGkQ41eemw/Up7GoocxcTI/AAAAAAAAAF8/Hre2Lm-vdsE/s1600/Marie-Antoinette,_1775_-_Muse%CC%81e_Antoine_Le%CC%81cuyer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yOGkQ41eemw/Up7GoocxcTI/AAAAAAAAAF8/Hre2Lm-vdsE/s200/Marie-Antoinette,_1775_-_Muse%CC%81e_Antoine_Le%CC%81cuyer.jpg" width="152" /></a></div>
Something tells me this is much ado about nothing, but here goes.<br />
<br />
Yesterday (it's now officially 12:39am), federal judge Steven J. Rhodes ruled that <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/04/us/fate-of-detroits-art-hangs-in-the-balance.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&_r=0" target="_blank">the city of Detroit is eligible to file for bankruptcy</a>.<br />
<br />
What does this mean? Not much, unless you live in Detroit, you care about maintaining a romantic outlook on art, or you're in the business of buying and selling art. In all seriousness, what this means is that <i>theoretically</i> speaking the Detroit Institute of Art's collection could be auctioned off in part or in its entirety to help pay off the city's debts.<br />
<br />
Why do I italicize "theoretically"? Because if you actually believe that that fire sale would happen then you are also likely to believe that the state of Texas would allow Jerry Jones to relocate the Dallas Cowboys to the state of Alabama.<br />
<br />
This is actually quite sad. That contemporary art has come down not to art making or its content, but rather to the creation of drama by idle individuals about the <b>extremely remote</b> possibility of selling "canonical" works of Western art. Hysteria is more like it.<br />
<br />
Here's a very stupid question: why would a city with an exodus of residents and engulfed in poverty, decaying architecture and unpaid bills want to sell off all or any of its city's art collection? I mean, this isn't <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/power-blackout-plunges-caracas-other-cities-darkness-residents-013927447.html" target="_blank">Venezuela</a>.Sergio Muñoz Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365215427617702363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575323233407462974.post-58116562135471359022013-11-27T13:49:00.000-05:002013-11-27T13:49:02.974-05:00Getting Antsy, Detroit's Creditors Want Their Money! <br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
The LA Times <a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-detroit-institute-of-art-20131127,0,2117613.story#axzz2lmeuZZwt" target="_blank">reports</a> that creditors of the city of Detroit are applying pressure on local leaders to sell off artworks belonging to the Detroit Institute of Arts in order to get paid for debts owed. They're also asking that the city of Detroit cooperate in assessing the value of the art. </div>
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Given the delay in assessing the value of the DIA's collection, one can certainly see why. What's taking so long? </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><br /></span>Sergio Muñoz Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365215427617702363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575323233407462974.post-68165900088463537542013-11-22T13:21:00.003-05:002013-11-22T13:21:51.068-05:00Christie's Evaluation of DIA's Art Collection Delayed<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
A highly anticipated evaluation of thousands of city-owned treasures
at the Detroit Institute of Arts is not expected to be finished until at
least the second week of December. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The report from Christie’s
auction house in New York, which Detroit officials previously said would
be completed in October or November, is expected to have a major impact
on the fate of the museum’s world-class collection.</blockquote>
Via <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20131120/NEWS01/311200187/" target="_blank">the Detroit Free Press</a>. <br />
Sergio Muñoz Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365215427617702363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575323233407462974.post-51413127721424366962013-11-20T12:16:00.000-05:002013-11-20T12:16:23.991-05:00Who's 'Profiting' from Detroit's Bankruptcy? With Detroit's pending bankruptcy the debate over whether to deaccession the DIA's art collection is well known.<br />
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But other than the bankruptcy lawyers and restructuring experts, who else will profit from Detroit's bankruptcy? <a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/story/whos-profiting-from-the-detroit-bankruptcy-2013-11-19" target="_blank">Marketwatch's Ben Eisen</a> on how Christie's and Barclay's are just two other entities profiting from Detroit's bankruptcy.<br />
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Eisen's slideshow is certainly worth the read, but I'm not sure that 'profiting' is quite the right word to use in this situation as it denotes an intentional act. Let's face it, when there are problems and screw-ups, someone has to service and fix these problems. This is called providing services rather than profiting. Getting paid for one's time, knowledge, and application of those two factors is not necessarily synonymous with 'profiting.'Sergio Muñoz Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365215427617702363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575323233407462974.post-91127489632610395522013-11-18T13:15:00.001-05:002013-11-18T13:15:11.358-05:00In Detroit, Secrecy and the Private Bailing Out of City-Owed PensionsThe Nonprofit Quarterly pens a good article on two major problems with Judge Rosen's <a href="http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20131114/METRO01/311140048" target="_blank">secret meeting with major private foundations</a> in hope of brainstorming a financial solution that would exclude selling any or all of the Detroit Institute of Art's collection. <a href="http://www.nonprofitquarterly.org/policysocial-context/23252-two-qualms-regarding-detroit-s-creative-solution.html" target="_blank">The two major problems the NPQ sees</a> are secrecy and the question of whether private foundations should be bailing out city-owed pensions.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The American public dislikes secrecy, no matter how you slice it. When foundations play into that, all their high statements about engagement and openness fly out the window. </blockquote>
On the role of philanthropies in society, the NPQ has this to say,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
But if their sense of civic pride or civic duty lures them into bailing out the city from the demands of its creditors, pensions or others, Detroit’s foundations will be not only depriving Detroit’s nonprofit sector of badly needed resources, but setting a very troubling precedent. How many other cities will lean on their civic-minded local foundations for bailouts like Detroit’s?</blockquote>
The entire NPQ article is available <a href="http://www.nonprofitquarterly.org/policysocial-context/23252-two-qualms-regarding-detroit-s-creative-solution.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Sergio Muñoz Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365215427617702363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575323233407462974.post-63969153299357702492013-10-15T11:28:00.000-04:002013-10-15T11:28:06.662-04:00The Remains of a Detroit Public LibraryThose opposed to deaccessioning may want to take a quick peek at <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bpdphotography/sets/72157626713779604/" target="_blank">these eerie, and sad, images</a> of the abandoned Mark Twain Public Library in Detroit.Sergio Muñoz Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365215427617702363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575323233407462974.post-11355123879962576242013-10-09T11:39:00.001-04:002013-10-09T11:39:40.542-04:00What do Detroiters & Michiganders think should happen with the DIA's collection? Dear Reader: My good friend and soon-to-be art lawyer, Dani Johnson, has generously agreed to share her thoughts and research concerning the city of Detroit, its pending bankruptcy, and the possible deaccessioning of the Detroit Institute of Arts collection. Dani's first blog entry was published Monday, the second yesterday, and the last one today.<br /><br /><div>
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<br />Most pieces I’ve read in the press either adamantly <a href="http://bit.ly/18TcIHv" target="_blank">oppose selling any art</a> or strongly advocate for doing whatever is necessary to help the City financially, including <a href="http://bit.ly/15pVCLc" target="_blank">selling some of the DIA’s art</a>. After talking with family, friends, and friends of friends who live and/or work in the Detroit area about what they think should happen, the answers I’ve gotten can best be summed up as: it’s complicated. <br /> <br />Obviously no one wants to break up the DIA’s outstanding collection: in addition to the DIA’s importance as a cultural institute in the city, Detroiters are proud people, and the DIA is one of the last things they have to hang on to from the glory days of Detroit’s earlier years. On the other hand, obviously every one wants Detroit police officers and firefighters to get the pensions they’ve earned and for some of the other glaring financial problems of Detroit to be addressed. <br /><br />What nobody knows is whether one will lead to the other. Even if the City is able to sell off some of the collection, will that money go to municipal workers’ pensions? Or will it go straight to the pockets of creditors? My understanding is that bankruptcy judges in similar circumstances do their best to keep assets like this in the charitable/public sector while fulfilling creditors from other assets, but the whole problem here is that Detroit is almost flush out of other assets. In either case, will selling the art provide a long-term solution? Many are concerned that it will provide only a temporary patch and then leave Detroit with nothing to make it a city worth living in. This is only an issue if you’re of the opinion that Detroit is capable of being revived and rebuilt—but certainly every Detroiter I’ve talked to is of that opinion. And with the recent influx of private investment into the City (namely <a href="http://bit.ly/18nyW0d" target="_blank">Dan Gilbert buying up a good portion of the City</a>), I have to say I’m hopeful that it’s possible, too.<br /></div>
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<a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dani-johnson/6/40/b32">Dani Johnson</a> is a recent graduate of Indiana University Maurer School of Law. During law school, Dani studied intellectual property law and founded the Society for Law and the Arts, a student organization that raises awareness for art law issues and career paths. Dani served as a Summer Associate at Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts in New York in 2012 and as the Trademark Office Assistant at Indiana University’s Office of Licensing and Trademarks in early 2013. Dani lives in Chicago and will soon be sworn in to the Illinois Bar. Dani may be reached at <a href="mailto:daniellekjohnson1@gmail.com">daniellekjohnson1@gmail.com</a>Sergio Muñoz Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365215427617702363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575323233407462974.post-21577925915676192222013-10-08T11:27:00.000-04:002013-10-08T11:27:14.860-04:00What are the nuts and bolts of the Attorney General’s opinion? Dear Reader: My good friend and soon-to-be art lawyer, Dani Johnson, has generously agreed to share her thoughts and research concerning the city of Detroit, its pending bankruptcy, and the possible deaccessioning of the Detroit Institute of Arts collection. Dani's first blog entry was published yesterday, the second today and last tomorrow, Wednesday, October 9th.<br />--<div>
<br />Bill Schuette’s opinion points out that the museum was originally incorporated as a nonprofit corporation with a specific charitable purpose: the public exhibition of art. So, it was founded as a charitable trust, with the Founders Society serving as its trustees, the public serving as the beneficiaries, and the public exhibition of art being its charitable purpose. When the City accepted the transfer of title of the collection in 1919, the law that allowed this transfer (1919 PA 67) required that the City use the property to maintain a public art institute and continue exhibiting art to the general public. Schuette argues that under charitable trust law, the transfer was “a transfer of the Founders Society’s . . . legal title in its charitable assets to a new charitable trustee—the City.” Basically, Schuette says that in 1919, the City took over as the trustees for the museum, but the collection remains in trust for the public, and all of the City’s expenditures for the museum have been in operating that trust for the public, not on behalf of the City itself. Because of this, the collection is not a financial asset of the City or the Founders Society, and it cannot be sold to pay off any of their debts—rather, it must continue to be used for its original charitable purpose, which is the public exhibition of art.<br />
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Schuette’s arguments seem logical and well-founded. A loophole in the argument that comes to mind is the doctrine of cy pres, which allows a judge to modify a charitable purpose when the original charitable purpose is no longer feasible. Proponents of selling the artwork could argue that because of Detroit’s dire financial state, exhibiting the artwork at the DIA is no longer feasible or in the best interests of the public. However, it seems unlikely that a court would pursue that path: doing so would be to quite dramatically redefine the charitable purpose of the DIA in a way that really hasn’t been done before. <br />
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Another argument I wondered about was whether part of the collection—namely that part that was purchased with City money, rather than donated or purchased by the Founders Society—might be more vulnerable to being sold. Schuette addresses this in one of his footnotes, and says that such a notion is inconsistent with trust law. He argues that trustees must keep trust property separate from the trustee’s own property and to act otherwise would be a breach of charitable trust—the notion that the City has been in breach since 1919 is “untenable,” which Schuette argues further supports the conclusion that the entire collection exists, and always has existed, for the singular charitable purpose of the exhibition of art. <br />
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I’m surprised that this warranted only a footnote, as it seems like a legitimate concern that artwork purchased with City tax dollars would be more susceptible to sale than artwork that was donated. Is it possible that a court could find these assets to be separate, even if it means a finding that the City breached its duties as trustee? I agree that it doesn’t seem likely, but a court could decide this, and it may be a tempting way to go—selling off only artwork that was purchased with City money seems on its face reasonable and would likely garner less heat from the public than selling the entire collection or randomly choosing a few of the most valuable pieces to sell.<br />
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Tomorrow, <i>what do Detroiters & Michiganders think should happen?
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dani-johnson/6/40/b32" style="color: #3d4955; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Dani Johnson</a> is a recent graduate of Indiana University Maurer School of Law. During law school, Dani studied intellectual property law and founded the Society for Law and the Arts, a student organization that raises awareness for art law issues and career paths. Dani served as a Summer Associate at Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts in New York in 2012 and as the Trademark Office Assistant at Indiana University’s Office of Licensing and Trademarks in early 2013. Dani lives in Chicago and will soon be sworn in to the Illinois Bar. Dani may be reached at </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4d4d4e; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="mailto:daniellekjohnson1@gmail.com" style="color: #cc0000; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">daniellekjohnson1@gmail.com</a></span></div>
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Sergio Muñoz Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365215427617702363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575323233407462974.post-56668935835123031002013-10-07T13:59:00.000-04:002013-10-08T10:47:30.586-04:00How and Why Does the City of Detroit Own DIA's Art Collection? Dear Reader: My good friend and soon-to-be art lawyer, Dani Johnson, has generously agreed to share her thoughts and research concerning the city of Detroit, its pending bankruptcy, and the possible deaccessioning of the Detroit Institute of Arts collection. Dani's blog entries will be published today, tomorrow, and Wednesday, October 9th.<br />
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<b>How and Why Does the City of Detroit Own DIA's Art Collection?</b><br />
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The DIA was incorporated in 1885 as a private, nonprofit corporation. Shortly thereafter, the City began appropriating money to support the museum. These appropriations raised concerns, a lawsuit was filed, and ultimately the Michigan Supreme Court decided in 1915 that the appropriations violated the state Constitution’s restrictions on a city’s lending of credit to an entity other than a public or municipal agency. After this, the museum began to struggle, and in response, the Michigan Legislature enacted a law (1919 PA 67) that allowed a corporation situated in a city empowered to maintain an art institute to convey its property to the city, so long as the property was used for the purposes for which the corporation was organized. Pursuant to this, the DIA transferred its collection to the City, while the nonprofit organization (today the Founders Society) continued to support the museum. This unique and problematic structure led the DIA to fluctuate in prosperity as <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20130907/ENT05/309080056/dia-detroit-arts-bankruptcy-history" target="_blank">Detroit experienced extreme financial fluxes and political problems over the last century</a>.<br />
<br />
In the wake of Governor Engel’s budget cuts to the DIA beginning in 1991, the Founders Society launched a fundraising campaign and raised over $25 million for the DIA, creating some space to formulate a long-term solution for the museum. In 1998, the City and the Founders Society reached an agreement under which the City retained legal title to the collection while the Founders Society had the exclusive right to acquire and dispose of the museum’s works of art. <br />
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Because of the convoluted nature of the structure, it’s been difficult to tell what rights the City has in potentially selling off any of the artwork to pay down some of Detroit’s debts. Earlier this summer, Michigan’s Attorney General, Bill Schuette, issued a 22-page nonbinding <a href="https://stropheus.com/blog/2013/06/16/dia-deaccessioning/opinion-_-opinion_number-_/?doing_wp_cron=1381168423.6833930015563964843750" target="_blank">opinion</a> that it would be illegal for the City to do so.<br />
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Tomorrow, <i>What are the nuts and bolts of the Attorney General’s opinion?</i><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dani-johnson/6/40/b32" target="_blank">Dani Johnson</a> is a recent graduate of Indiana University
Maurer School of Law. During law school, Dani studied intellectual property law
and founded the Society for Law and the Arts, a student organization that
raises awareness for art law issues and career paths. Dani served as a Summer
Associate at Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts in New York in 2012 and as the
Trademark Office Assistant at Indiana University’s Office of Licensing and
Trademarks in early 2013. Dani lives in Chicago and will soon be sworn in to
the Illinois Bar. Dani may be reached at </span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1381202457_0"><a href="mailto:daniellekjohnson1@gmail.com" target="_blank">daniellekjohnson1@gmail.com</a></span></div>
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Sergio Muñoz Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365215427617702363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575323233407462974.post-47393729398480973192013-10-01T12:26:00.001-04:002013-10-01T12:29:55.685-04:00Socialists to Protest In Defense of DIAWith sloganeering such as, "Culture is a social right," "The art belongs to the people," "No cuts to workers pensions or city services!" and "No to banrkuptcy", a mass protest has been scheduled in front of the DIA this Friday, Oct. 4th.<br />
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If they can tell me how Detroit can keep the DIA collection intact, repair the potholes and broken streetlights, keep pensions at their original numbers, and NOT file for bankruptcy, I'd love to know so I can package that idea and sell it to our federal government. Talk about a money-maker! Thanks to my good friend, Dani Johnson, for the heads up on this one.<br />
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<a href="http://defendthedia.org/" target="_blank">From the socialist's website</a>,<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
No one should believe the claims that sale of the art will help save
workers’ pensions. After they take the art, the banks will be even more
eager to steal municipal workers’ pensions and to slash city services!
The right to culture must be defended along with all the rights of the
working class. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The Socialist Equality Party and International Youth and Students for
Social Equality are calling for a mass demonstration at the DIA to
defend the DIA. We aim not to pressure the Democrats and Republicans,
the bought-and-paid-for politicians of the banks, but to organize an
independent movement of working people. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
To organize this struggle the SEP is calling for the formation of a Committee to Defend the DIA!</blockquote>
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<br />Sergio Muñoz Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365215427617702363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575323233407462974.post-64973680348514806992013-09-30T09:14:00.002-04:002013-10-02T21:59:35.619-04:00Should the DIA Start Renting a Moving Van? Nolan Finley, <a href="http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130929/OPINION01/309290002/" target="_blank">of the Detroit News</a>,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
In recent days, I’ve talked to three people at the top of the
decision-making in the bankruptcy process. All said, without question,
that at least part of the collection will have to be — their word —
“monetized” before the bankruptcy is resolved.</blockquote>
But he wonders <i>how much</i> of the DIA collection will be up for grabs. </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Christie’s, the New York auction house, is assessing the collection. If
the value is pegged at $2 billion to $3 billion, the DIA likely will
escape relatively unscathed. If, as expected, it comes in at $10 billion
to $15 billion, the half-billion Orr wants is reasonable. But if the
number is more astronomical — $25 billion or above — somebody call Roger
Penske and order a moving van.</blockquote>
I guess this is one time when an art collector wants the value of her collection to be assessed as low as possible. But then, what are the consequences of that gesture? </div>
Sergio Muñoz Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365215427617702363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575323233407462974.post-59983543529124141692013-09-12T00:12:00.000-04:002013-09-13T17:29:36.997-04:00Roberta Smith Is Way Off the Mark on the DIANY <i>Times</i> arts writer, Robert Smith, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/11/arts/design/in-detroit-a-case-of-selling-art-and-selling-out.html?_r=0&adxnnl=1&ref=design&adxnnlx=1378957264-fXMV9ZUB7aa56AShCUe+XQ" target="_blank">weighs in on the DIA and the possible sale of part of its collection</a>. I read the story on my flight back from Texas, and underlined so many conclusory statements and legal misstatements that my pen ran out of ink.<br />
<br />
Donn Zaretsky does <a href="http://theartlawblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/roberta-smith-weighs-in-on-detroit.html" target="_blank">a great point-by-point analysis</a> of Smith's inflated and fictional account, highlighting Smith's gluttunous use of hyperbole. Normally I would dismiss Smith's off-the-cuff comments given that on occasion she does hit the nail on the head. But since the ongoing DIA situation is of key public concern with major consequences, many readers who respect Smith's position as a <i>Times</i> writer will allocate significant truth and weight to her unfounded allegations, then turn around and disseminate these same ridiculous arguments.<br />
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I don't think I would be too crazy to say that some of Smith's comments border on being unethical and severely lacking in fact-checking skills, to the extent that I would encourage readers to <a href="http://publiceditor.blogs.nytimes.com/contact-the-public-editor/" target="_blank">contact</a> the <i>Times</i>' public editor, <a href="http://publiceditor.blogs.nytimes.com/about-the-public-editor/" target="_blank">Margaret Sullivan</a>, and ask her to take a look into Smith's lack of journalistic integrity.<br />
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<br />Sergio Muñoz Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365215427617702363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575323233407462974.post-54262924560182702122013-08-30T12:17:00.001-04:002013-08-30T12:17:59.885-04:00We Don't Need No Stinkin' AAMD PoliceDonn Zaretsky <a href="http://theartlawblog.blogspot.com/2013/08/we-dont-need-aamd-to-serve-as-museum.html" target="_blank">reports</a> that we have another art lover calling for the Deaccessioning Police to back off.<br />
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This is one petition I'll gladly sign. Now, who could we get fired? Lee Rosenbaum? Sergio Muñoz Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365215427617702363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575323233407462974.post-42698654880266882472013-08-26T19:25:00.001-04:002013-08-26T19:25:41.329-04:00The DIA and Its Collection Are Now Genuine Celebrity FiguresMy good friend, Michael Bennett, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-g-bennett/how-best-to-spend-the-det_b_3806634.html" target="_blank">on why art matters to Detroit</a>, and why Detroit should use this opportunity--it's 15 minutes of fame--to garner support for the DIA and its collection.Sergio Muñoz Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365215427617702363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575323233407462974.post-82129690911970857692013-08-23T13:05:00.001-04:002013-08-23T13:05:56.604-04:00Law Prof: Selling DIA's Art Collection "a huge mistake." Georgetown Law professor and bankruptcy expert, Adam Levitin, <a href="http://www.salon.com/2013/08/20/hands_off_detroits_final_treasures/" target="_blank">thinks selling the Detroit Institute of Art's collection to pay creditors is wrong legally and culturally</a>.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Sacrificing Detroit’s art would be an urban planning mistake of the
first order that would unjustly enrich creditors. It doesn’t have to
happen. Michigan can, and should, take the legal steps necessary to
prevent this from happening.</blockquote>
Donn Zaretsky <a href="http://theartlawblog.blogspot.com/2013/08/theres-nothing-in-chapter-9-that.html" target="_blank">also pointed out</a> Levitin's three main reasons,<br />
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1. If Detroit is to be rebuilt, it needs a cultural base, not just an economic base.<br />
<br />
2. It would also be wrong legally. Bankruptcy law has no provision that requires cities to sell their assets to satisfy creditors.<br />
<br />
3. Detroit’s creditors may complain that it is unfair for the city to hold
on to a valuable asset while not paying them in full. The truth, though,
is that liquidating the art collection would represent a giant windfall
for creditors. No creditor ever relied on being able to seize the DIA
collection when extending credit to the city.<br />
<br />
I have a couple of questions for Professor Levitin.<br />
<br />
One, we must assume Detroit can be rebuilt, and by this I mean rebuilt to the extent that it can support an institution the size of the DIA. Additionally, would it even make sense to have burned down buildings, a decreased police and fire department force, and potholes the size of moon craters for the sake of having cultural classics?<br />
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Two, why would liquidating part--or all--of the DIA's collection represent "a giant windfall for creditors"? What if you owe me $10 and you allege you are broke, but then you find a $5 bill in your pocket that you "didn't know" you had. Does that mean I would be getting a "windfall" if you paid me half of what you owe me? What if you find a $20, would it be so wrong to walk down to the corner store and get two $10s, one for you and one for me?<br />
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<br />Sergio Muñoz Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365215427617702363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575323233407462974.post-88620708198392876512013-08-19T11:01:00.002-04:002013-08-19T11:01:47.927-04:00What's the Value of Detroit Institute of Arts' Collection? We'll soon find out.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Christie’s will only appraise works bought directly by the city that are
unencumbered by donated funds or other covenants that cloud clear legal
title, said Bill Nowling, spokesman for Detroit emergency manager Kevyn
Orr. The appraisal will unfold in phases. Officials will start with the
art on view before evaluating art in storage with an estimated market
value of $50,000 or more and, finally, art in storage presumed to be
worth less than $50,000.</blockquote>
Final results are due in October or November. The city is paying Christie’s a $200,000 fee. However, it appears that if there is a sale, it won't necessarily be made through Christie's.<br />
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More via <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20130818/ENT05/308180068/" target="_blank">The Detroit Free Press</a>.Sergio Muñoz Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365215427617702363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575323233407462974.post-33215141490793463342013-08-14T11:45:00.002-04:002013-08-14T11:45:44.245-04:00Deaccessioning Police plans 'Day for Detroit'Can blogs wear Birkenstocks?<br />
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A few art blogs are <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20130813/ENT05/308130119/Detroit-Institute-of-Arts-Tyler-Green-Bankruptcy-a-day-for-detroit" target="_blank">rallying around the web-o-sphere</a> to bring attention to Detroit's financial plight and the potential deaccessioning of DIA's art collection. Because, you know, it's not like Detroit's been in the news lately.<br />
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I'm a bit hurt. Why wasn't The Deaccessioning Blog invited? (wink, wink...)Sergio Muñoz Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365215427617702363noreply@blogger.com0