Thursday, December 25th, 2008
First MOCA, Now The National Academy
Image: National Academy
In a picture all too similar to MOCA’s recent troubles, the National Academy of New York is on the verge of financial collapse. Following MOCA’s lead, the museum has been dipping into its restricted funds (stipulated for costs other than day to day operations, such as new acquisitions) to meet operating costs. To make matters worse, the National Academy committed the ultimate art museum sin by selling off two significant paintings from the Hudson River School to help pay bills. This offense got them tagged a “pariah” by the Association of Art Museum Directors, who has gone on to ask its members to stop any and all support to the National Academy.
It doesn’t stop there – The National Academy’s leaders, which are made of a disjointed mix of 20 board members (known as the council), professional artists (called academicians), and an advisory board, can’t seem to agree on how to deal with the looming crisis. A plan approved by the council to sell off several buildings and relocate was firmly rejected by the artist members. Speaking of the academicians, Advisory Board Vice President, argued, “they just live in another world and don’t understand fiduciary responsibility.”
While MOCA found its saviour in Eli Broad just this week, we have to wonder if the National Academy will be as lucky.
Read More: New York Times – “Branded a Pariah, the National Academy Is Struggling to Survive”
3 Responses to “First MOCA, Now The National Academy”
Please leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
February 2nd, 2009 at 4:55 am
the art collectors » To Sell Or Not To Sell? - Brandeis Closes Rose Art Museum said:
[…] costs. While the former was lucky enough to receive a $30 million donation from Eli Broad, the National Academy has been widely criticized for the decision to sell off several works in efforts to stay […]
February 25th, 2009 at 10:49 am
the art collectors » Economy Continues to Batter Museums said:
[…] to an ever inflating list of fiscally troubled institutions, including MOCA, The National Academy, and Rose Art Museum, this news does not bode well for the foreseeable future of public arts. […]
June 20th, 2009 at 12:55 am
the art collectors » Deaccession Controversy Hits Orange County Museum of Art said:
[…] different from recent controversy surrounding other institutions, such as the National Academy, whose deaccession was not linked to the funding of new art, and in violation of accepted museum standards put forth […]