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Re: private college art policy



We don't have a policy here, and although I would welcome one, I wouldn't
initiate the discussion at my institution as I don't want to become the
"university curator" in addition to already being the university archivist.
I will be interested in hearing what others have to say about this issue.

My warning flag for you, Laurie, and others is that a policy is needed to
first address what art work can be donated to the institution and under what
circumstances.  Unlike cash and cash equivalents (e.g., stocks and even real
estate), art works often come with a lot of ties and conditions, both on the
part of the donor and the IRS.  Even if they don't, you can end up with some
albatross around your neck that you can't unload because no one else wants
it or because of negative PR.  Your suggestion that art works "not be moved
or disposed of without the express permission of ..." is a good one, but
what about the other possibility:  "Here, we don't want this hanging in our
office any more, but the Dean says not to get rid of it in case the alum
comes to visit, so you keep it somewhere safe and be responsible for it."

Catherine Bruck
University Archivist
Illinois Institute of Technology
Paul V. Galvin Library
35 W. 33rd St.
Chicago, IL  60616
312/567-6840
FAX 312/567-5318
bruck@iit.edu


-----Original Message-----
From: Archives & Archivists [mailto:ARCHIVES@LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU]On
Behalf Of Laurie Langland
Sent: Monday, July 08, 2002 2:14 PM
To: ARCHIVES@LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU
Subject: private college art policy


I recently asked the list for advice on doing an inventory of art on campus
and got a lot of good suggestions. As I prepared to start the inventory, I
learned that we have no policies re: art owned by the university. I am
hoping that similar colleges and universities - we are a small, private,
church-affiliated university - have simple, straightforward policies that
they would be willing to share.

This isn't a collection policy; rather, it's a policy for dealing with art
donated to the university, as well as purchased by it. We'll also need
corresponding procedures to carry out the policy. I'm thinking of something
like this:

All artworks donated to the university, as well as purchased by the
university, are the sole property of the university. They shall not be moved
or disposed of without the express permission of the [possibly the
library/archives].

Our ultimate goal is to prevent artwork from disappearing and to be able to
locate a specific item when requested. Obviously, we hope no one will steal
anything, but we also want to prevent careless assumptions that an item
isn't worth anything or not worth salvaging if it is damaged.

I'm also wondering if institutions are specific as to art, or if it's lumped
together with university property as a whole. If your college has any kind
of policy that would address our concerns, I would appreciate learning about
it. If I can draft something workable for us, I have the support of one of
our vice presidents to help make it an official policy.

Sincerely,

Laurie Langland
Project Archivist
Layne Library, Dakota Wesleyan University
Mitchell, SD

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