Part of Brandeis University in Massachusetts, the Rose Art Museum is facing an uncertain future that could result in the selling of its 8000+ work art collection. The museum was founded in 1961 and holds some early works by great American artists such as Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein and Robert Rauschenberg. It’s also held some pretty renowned, important exhibitions by artists Joseph Cornell and Dana Schutz including others. It is the universities debt, however, not the museums that is forcing The Rose into an uncertain future. The university is considering the drastic action of closing the museum completely and auctioning off the collection in order to cover the potential $79m debt facing the university. After a public outcry of criticism for the plans to close the Museum, the university changed its plans of closing the building completely into changing its purpose into an education centre with studio and exhibition space. The university is now considering other ways for the debt to be recovered from donors and through fundraising after the art world showed is disapproval of the closure of the museum. The future is as uncertain now as ever, while the university statement says that the museum will be open and staffed throughout the summer, it is trying to take legal action in order for them to be able to sell off the collection.
Read the original post on the Art Switch Blog
