Last week, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art issued a press release stating that it had raised 89% of the goal of its capital campaign three years ahead of schedule and therefore was increasing the goal from $555 million to $610 million. I didn't pay too much attention until I read the final line of the explanation: The additional funds will enable SFMOMA to pursue three goals: to become a national leader in digital engagement; to pursue an expanded art commissioning program in the museum’s public spaces; and to increase accessibility … [Read more...]

I am not a huge fan of foreign museums that expect to raise a lot of money from Americans: it seems to me, as I've written here before, that the money mainly flows in one direction -- from the U.S. overseas. Not too many Europeans and Asians are giving a lot of money to American museums, though there are exceptions. The Guggenheim, for one, has a couple of foreign trustees, and I would hope that they are providing strong support, as all trustees are supposed to do.  One of them, Victor Potanin, has made a few headlines here for giving. I … [Read more...]

The controversy over the Miami Art Museum, which traded its name for $35 million to Jorge Perez in 2011, had died down. Trustees who quit over the decision and outside opponents (including me) had no choice but to grin and bear it: the $220 million project proceeded despite complaints that the Perez gift was not large enough in the whole context of the building. Nor were questions about the quality of the art he was giving as part of the gift ever answered. Now they are coming back. Since March 14, the museum has been showing a selection … [Read more...]

Late last month, I finally got to the New Barnes Foundation in downtown Philadelphia. It's always a pleasure to see those paintings, but I tend to agree with the commenters who've found the replication of the old hanging in the new building to be jarring. Kind of old wine in new bottles -- doesn't work for me. I tried to forget where I was and just focus on the pictures. But it felt more cramped than it did in Merion, possibly because there were many more people in the galleries. Which brings me to the news: The Barnes did not put out a … [Read more...]

As they always say, if you've got three, you've got a trend. I have only two, but I wonder if more museum cutbacks are coming. UPDATE --see comment below. Now we do have three examples. Earlier this week, the Baltimore Museum of Art awarded pink slips to 14 employees, or 9 percent of the 154-member staff., according to The Baltimore Sun. The 14 included 11  full-time exployees and three part-timers. Here's the background: The job cuts are needed to make up a projected deficit of more than $500,000 by  July 1, according to museum … [Read more...]

British art groups are, like their counterparts here, experiencing economic difficulties, not least there because the government, including local councils, have slashed the amount of aid it provides. Partly in response to a comment made last year by culture secretary Maria Miller -- that arts groups must "get better at asking, not just receiving," 11 museums and theatres in Britain have developed a new smart phone app, designed to trigger on-site giving -- while people are appreciative of what they are seeing. It's a new National … [Read more...]