News Brief: Save the Art – Save the Museum to hold rally at Harvard University

Save the Art – Save the Museum to hold rally at American Alliance of Museums conference

Cambridge — The Berkshires-based citizens group Save the Art – Save the Museum will stage a rally Friday, Dec. 15, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. and from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the sidewalk outside of Harvard University’s Geological Lecture Hall in connection with a national meeting of museum professionals organized by the American Alliance of Museums and hosted by the Harvard Museums of Science & Culture. Supporters are invited to join.

The conference, titled “Don’t Raid the Cookie Jar: Creating Early Interventions to Prevent Deaccessioning Crises,” has been convened to address “the timely issue of deaccessioning.” It was organized in the wake of the Berkshire Museum controversy, which is currently the subject of an investigation by the office of the Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey. The rally is designed to supply informational outreach and to support the protection of cultural collections.

Said Laura Lott, president and CEO of AAM: “We agree that museum collections are held in the public trust and must not be treated as disposable financial assets. And we remain willing and available to work with the Berkshire Museum to identify and support the implementation of alternatives to the sale of collections that they are currently pursuing. We sympathize with museums across the US facing financial challenges. This is why our December 14-15 workshop is focused on finding practical solutions to help museums avoid financial crises.”