Move Over Museum Curators, Bank Of America Wants Your Job
Cash-strapped art museums across the country are turning to an unlikely source for new exhibitions: Banks. According to a story in the New York Times, Bank of America, Chase, and a number of other global entities have put together traveling art exhibits and are offering them to museums across the country.
Corporate sponsorship of art shows is nothing new, of course, but we're talking about entire exhibits put together by banks, using works from their own collections. Traditionally, museums have two main duties: to select artwork and to display it. The banks are thus assuming one of the primary functions of museums, effectively providing the art world with a franchising model.
What do the museums get out of it? Zero shipping costs and top tier artists - an Andy Warhol here, a Robert Rauschenberg there - that they otherwise could never afford.
And the banks? Rena DeSisto, head of global arts marketing for Bank of America, told the New York Times:
"The income we have generated through increased business is superior to any income we could generate from selling the collection... Attracting even one individual client can cover the entire cost of lending a turnkey exhibition."
The bank also benefits by "associating the bank with arts patronage and charitable giving, providing access to prospective clients in museum trustees and donors, offering opportunities for client entertainment."
There is, however, a downside to all this for museum-goers. Exhibiting artworks increases their value, so banks are likely to choose works based on their profit potential rather than their aesthetic or historic values. (Many museums, for example, will only show corporate collections when the work has been donated.) And, after all, those non-pecuniary values are the reason most people visit museums in the first place.
And Now, an Exhibition From Our Sponsor [New York Times]
(Photo: mrkathika)
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I'm not sure what the big deal is about this. Being a museum-person by training, this is just a different way of funding exhibitions.
"Traditionally, museums have two main duties: to select artwork and to display it."
Please! Museums have far, far, far more duties than just those two, and Consumerist does a grave injustice to the museum world by stating such "facts".
For a second there, I thought this article was going to describe museums having exhibits about banks. That would be ripe for satire.
"Here, we have a collage of financial statements from Guaranty Bank detailing what used to be the savings accounts of former members."
"Oooh, ahhhh."
@MaxSmart32: A museum-person-in-training would also like to respond!
Yes, Consumerist, museums have far more functions than to just select and display art. Museums also serve to educate the public (which may include aspiring artists), in some cases to entertain (just go to any children's or discovery museum to see fun in learning!), to preserve history (as in the case of badly damaged books or artwork), among others. (Besides, it's l'Ecole that once selected and displayed the artwork. We just keep it safe. ;) )
@demitasse: demitasse, I wish you the best of luck. I had to finally leave the field after 6 years and get a job that paid a decent wage...my suggestion to you is to volunteer all you possibly can.
Its a rough world in a museum....
"There is, however, a downside to all this for museum-goers. Exhibiting artworks increases their value, so banks are likely to choose works based on their profit potential rather than their aesthetic or historic values."
In other words, banks are more likely to choose artworks the artworks that people will most likely want to see?
How is that a downside?
As a former museum director, I see this as a mostly good thing. With a big bucks exhibit comes increased security costs and the museum must meet certain environmental conditions also. This limits the types and size of museums that can host these exhibits. What that means is if you are in a large of moderately sized city, you can probably host such an exhibit, but if you are in a smaller community, the odds are against it. Don't plan on seeing it in towns like Ely, MN or Darrington, WA.
I could see some hospitals doing this too some day. Some of the lobbies and common areas are palatial. No wonder why our health care costs so much in the U.S!
While I am all for culture (yogurt or otherwise), if I'm 'donating' or 'making the suggested donation' or 'paying the actual price they want' to see something at a museum, I don't expect to get the culture of B of A or any other bank. That is, let's not have all the signage to the point were it looks like the waiting line to a ride at DisneyWorld. If the museum wants to 'thank' the bank, have 'em put a blurb on the ticket I get or maybe a mention in the program booklet (if there is one).
And remember, just because a bank sponsors an exhibition, doesn't mean it's the best bank for your money. That of course also goes with any company that plays the naming rights game. If you've got money to invest or save, do some due diligence (like read Consumerist) before you give the joint your greenbacks.
Another museum professional here. Museums get turnkey (although that term is usually code for "probably needs a lot of work before you can actually open") exhibits all the time from various sources, including other museums and museum exhibit companies. I think these corporate collections being shown to more of the general public is a great thing. Not to mention that corporate collections often have curators and collections staff of their own.
I also want to echo the other comments that mention all the other work museums do besides selecting and displaying art. There's lots happening behind the scene.
@Ellimack: "probably needs a lot of work"...that is underestimating it. An exhibit all about the science of a city...took more work than making our own exhibit to get it running, and then keep it running!
@HunanGarden: Yale actually has art shows and contests, so that 'local' (it extends throughout the NE) artists can get exposure & sales, and patients and staff can enjoy interesting art.
@GitEmSteveDave_♥'sRenegadeIrishman: thats where Bank Of America got all the artwork from. MBNA took extra care of everything including it's employee's. Bank of america, well, not so much. The building I worked in was meticulously maintained when it was MBNA. Even classic cars in the walkway between buildings. After B of A came in, we had to beg to get the trash taken out and the floors swept. and then they crapped up the walls with the B of A propaganda everywhere.
I seriously hope none of the banks in question took bailout money otherwise I might just have to repossess that Picasso or Monet they have hanging there. After all, it was my effing money they spent on it.
As someone who has worked in museums, at first I grimaced at the thought of corporate moving into the traditionally non-profit museum world.
However, these banks are still going to have to hire curators to develop and maintain the exhibits they're creating. They're going to need people with art world experience to shop them around. Best case scenario is this will create a lot more jobs for those with art world training (which is really needed right now) and as corporations, they'll most likely pay better or offer better benefits than traditional non-profit art world positions (also needed).
Am I the only one who thinks banks should stick with banking? What are they going to sponsor next? Church services for the failing Catholic faith?
"Traditionally, museums have two main duties: to select artwork and to display it."
This is a serious misapprehension of the role of museums. Exhibitions are only a small part of what museums do; most museums devote the majority of their resources and staff to conservation, restoration, research, and education. Museums are all about their collections, and making sure those objects are still viable for centuries to come. That's not easy, and it's definitely not cheap.
MBNA had a LOT of nice and valuable artwork that was kept track of in it's buildings very well. Another perk to the sale.