Coronavirus: struggling US museums sell art from Monet to Warhol, sparking debate

US museums hit hard by the pandemic are selling paintings to bridge revenue gaps, with some going further and using the funds to diversify collections, but critics say the sales betray the institutions’ mission of preserving artwork for the public.

US museums were only able to sell works, known as deaccessioning, in order to buy back others until April 2020 when the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) lifted the ban for two years to allow institutions to compensate for coronavirus-era losses.

Some museums are seizing the opportunity to renew and diversify their collections but others have been forced to backtrack after opposition from local communities.

In September, the Brooklyn Museum, already struggling financially before the pandemic, put 12 works, including one Monet and two Dubuffets on sale to raise funds to maintain its collection.

Earlier this year, the director of New York’s Metropolitan Museum, Max Hollein, indicated that money raised from the sale of works would be spent covering costs related to collection care such as the salaries of staff.

He played down the significance of the sales and stressed the move is only temporary.

“American institutions have been deaccessioning for decades,” said Hollein, adding that the Met had no plans to sell more works in 2021 than it has in previous years. “We are very versed in doing it, we believe in it, we feel that there is a benefit for our collection, development.”