Sad times for Brandeis
There are sure to be posts all over the web about yesterday’s shocking announcement that the Brandeis board of trustees voted to close the Rose Art Museum and sell its collection:
http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2009/01/26/brandeis_to_sell_schools_art_collection/
For now, I cling to the naive hope that the decision is an institution-specific exception, rather than the first sign that we’re ushering in an era in which art is regarded as a fungible commodity. At least one art historian has pointed out the pragmatic nature of such a decision when the university is in financial trouble and is located in an urban area amidst other cultural resources. Yet the Rose’s role in the Boston art community cannot be duplicated: the museum has served as a center of contemporary art in Boston, organized important exhibitions, and added a new wing in 2001. For the campus itself, the impact of having an art museum that offers students the opportunity to interact closely with original works of art without leaving campus is inestimable. I’m relieved to read today that efforts are being made by alumni and donors to halt these plans, but the question remains of what this augurs for the secure future of museums.
