University Museums

With all of the current news and publicity surrounding Brandies University and the possible closing or re purposing of the Rose Art Museum, Holland Cotter writes an interesting article in the NY Times. Cotter argues that once an academic institutions deaccessions a collection, it will never again gain back the culture or stature that it lost for purely financial gain. He also mentions that once the funds are spent, they are gone, as opposed to the enduring nature of academic museums. Cotter also touches on academic museums having different missions, with small shows as opposed to the larger exhibitions of some of the larger and more affluent institutions.

Cotter states All the shows are fairly small. All are, in different ways, beautiful. All are closely researched studies on fascinating subjects we know too little about. Yet each is just a shade too specialized or unglamorous or experimental to find a home in our public art institutions. If it weren’t for academic museums, these shows wouldn’t happen. And that would be a real loss. University museums are unlike other museums. They are not intended to be powerhouse displays of masterworks, though some have their share of these. They are, before all else, teaching instruments intended for hands-on use by students and scholars. As such, they often house objects that are considered of second- and third-tier value at auction but that fill out a deep and detailed account of cultural history.

The article is a very interesting and good read, with a sound perspective on academic museums. Click HERE to read.