Deaccession
One of the many obstacles today that Museums must work around is deaccession. Deaccession is “to sell or otherwise dispose of an item in a collection (Webster). Museums use this method by “permanently removing an artifact/artwork by gift, exchange, sale or destruction from a collection” (Principles of deaccession). A reasonable concern for the artifact must be acknowledged before a deliberation can happen about the removal of an object from a collection (principles of deaccession). Deaccession should only happen in a situation that will lead to the strengthening and improvement of a collection.
Deaccession can happen for many of reasons. There are certain environmental elements, such as light, humidity, temperature, …show more content…
For example, The Delaware Art Museum sold a painting by William Holman Hunt called Isabella and the Pot of Basil for $4.25 million from their collection to try and settle a debt. This debt was obtained from their $19.8 million 2005 building expansion and renovation. The actions of the Delaware Art Museum upset a great deal of people, including members of the AAM Accreditation Commission. The American Alliance of Museums Code of Ethics for Museums (AAM) stated, “disposal of collections through sale, trade or research activities is solely for the advancement of the museum’s mission. Proceeds from the sale of nonliving collections are to be used in a manner consistent with the established standards of the museum’s discipline, but in no event shall they used for anything other than acquisition or direct care collections.” Because of the decision that the Delaware Art Museum made this caused them to be removed from the accredited status. ( American Alliance of) As a result of being uncredited the Delaware Art Museum can no longer receive loans from other museums.
The Delaware Art Museum chose to sell more paintings, Winslow Homer – “Milking Time” (1875) and Ander Wyeth- “Arthur Cleveland” (1946) and Alexander Calder’s - “Black Crescent”. CEO Mike Miller said, “we reached our most important goal, keeping the museum open and thriving.”(Artnet) It would seem that the Delaware Museum thought that they were doing what was most beneficial for their museum, even though it did not mean the regulations brought forth by the AAM Accreditation
One of the many obstacles today that Museums must work around is deaccession. Deaccession is “to sell or otherwise dispose of an item in a collection (Webster). Museums use this method by “permanently removing an artifact/artwork by gift, exchange, sale or destruction from a collection” (Principles of deaccession). A reasonable concern for the artifact must be acknowledged before a deliberation can happen about the removal of an object from a collection (principles of deaccession). Deaccession should only happen in a situation that will lead to the strengthening and improvement of a collection.
Deaccession can happen for many of reasons. There are certain environmental elements, such as light, humidity, temperature, …show more content…
For example, The Delaware Art Museum sold a painting by William Holman Hunt called Isabella and the Pot of Basil for $4.25 million from their collection to try and settle a debt. This debt was obtained from their $19.8 million 2005 building expansion and renovation. The actions of the Delaware Art Museum upset a great deal of people, including members of the AAM Accreditation Commission. The American Alliance of Museums Code of Ethics for Museums (AAM) stated, “disposal of collections through sale, trade or research activities is solely for the advancement of the museum’s mission. Proceeds from the sale of nonliving collections are to be used in a manner consistent with the established standards of the museum’s discipline, but in no event shall they used for anything other than acquisition or direct care collections.” Because of the decision that the Delaware Art Museum made this caused them to be removed from the accredited status. ( American Alliance of) As a result of being uncredited the Delaware Art Museum can no longer receive loans from other museums.
The Delaware Art Museum chose to sell more paintings, Winslow Homer – “Milking Time” (1875) and Ander Wyeth- “Arthur Cleveland” (1946) and Alexander Calder’s - “Black Crescent”. CEO Mike Miller said, “we reached our most important goal, keeping the museum open and thriving.”(Artnet) It would seem that the Delaware Museum thought that they were doing what was most beneficial for their museum, even though it did not mean the regulations brought forth by the AAM Accreditation