Albright-Knox Cuts Back Again: The Least of Evils?

The Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo is scaling back again in response to its economic woes. It will close the Collectors Gallery, which featured the work of local artists, permanently at the end of October.

The Collectors Gallery dates to 1933, according to WBFO, the public radio station that broke the news (here's the link) yesterday. It said, "The volunteer-run gallery spotlights regional artists and gives the public a chance to become art patrons."

I checked the museum's website, and there's nothing yet about this under Newsroom.

Why is it that so few museums actually put out a forthright statement about things like this? I'm a fan of reporters' digging out news, but once it's out there, why not make it official?

While on the site, I went back to the museum's July statement announcing a three-year plan to address its financial challenges. No mention of the Collectors Gallery then... That was when the Albright-Knox reduced hours to four days a week and said it needed to refocus on its core mission.

Times change, though and -- surprise -- I agree with the decision. Support for local artists is important at many museums, and I would count Albright-Knox among them. But Director Louis Grachos was not that far off when told WBFO that it was "important that the museum not compete with the many art galleries that have popped up all over the city in recent years."

He might have mentioned a more important factor, the new Burchfield Penney Art Center across the street (which I wrote about here): It focuses on the art of Western New York State and is off to a great start in its new building.

Interestingly, the July statement has new resonance in light of the controversy at the Cleveland Museum of Art, which wants to dip into revenue generated by endowment funds restricted to acquisitions. The A-K board president Charles W. Banta said then:

Because of the Gallery's endowment that is restricted for the purchase of works of art, the museum has been able to continue to build its outstanding Permanent Collection despite the current economic climate. The strength of the Collection will ensure that a reduction in operating expenses will not diminish the aesthetic and artistic experience of visitors to the Gallery.

Of course, none of this excuses the Albright-Knox's deaccessions in 2007, about which many are still smarting.

Photo Credit: Column Structure IX, 2006, Robert Mangold, from an exhibition opening at the Albright-Knox on Oct. 23. Courtesy of the museum.