An Old Master painting sold at auction in January was a rags to riches story. But now experts have come forward to say they had expressed doubts about the authenticity of the painting before it was sold. Why weren’t those doubts disclosed by the auction house? – New York Times
Author: Douglas McLennan
PAY-OFF
- Detroit Institute of Arts pays artist Jeff Bourgeau $12,500 in compensation for canceling his controversial exhibition last fall. – Detroit News
NO MEMORY FOR DESIGN
Why aren’t America’s museums interested in collecting the archives of its famous designers and architects? – New York Times
CANADIAN MUSICIAN organizes campaign –
– to ship 2000 musical instruments to Cuba. – CBC
US AND THEM
The Berlin Film Festival is still struggling for identity ten years after the Wall fell. “When this was a divided and occupied city, the West Berlin festival had a clear political mission, first as a showcase of democratic freedom, then as a cultural bridge between East and West. Now, with Berlin reunited and the Soviet bloc a thing of the past, the festival seems to be adrift in the no man’s land that divides the global movie industry between the United States and the rest of the world.” – New York Times 02/17/00
RUSSIAN ACTOR IN ORBIT
Russian space officials have agreed to send an actor up to the Mir Space Station and to film scenes for a movie there. “The film is among several projects aimed at keeping the aging space station aloft. Starved of government funding, Russian space officials have been forced to entertain unorthodox proposals for commercial use of the Mir.” – Detroit News (AP) 02/17/00
REVERSING FIELD
Britain agrees to go along with EU plan to grant artists resale rights on their work. Under the plan, artists would get a maximum of four per cent on the resale of their work on art worth up to £30,000, and smaller percentages for higher-valued work. British Art Federation chairman Anthony Browne says the damage to London’s galleries would be “colossal”. – London Evening Standard
- Plan could wipe out 5,000 jobs. – The Guardian
CANADA’S NATIONAL BALLET –
– settles contract with its musicians only hours before the orchestra was to go on strike. – CBC
- Company has debt of $4 million. Toronto Globe and Mail 02/17/00
MUSEUM MONGER
The new chairman of the British government’s new Museums, Libraries and Archives Commission has got the UK’s museum world in an uproar. He’s under attack for describing British museums as regressive, isolationist, afraid of change, and ignorant of technical advances. His critics contend he has only the vaguest idea of what museums are for, how they function, and what is actually happening in them today. “For someone who will be responsible for advising the government on the running of our regional museums, such ignorance gives cause for concern.” – The Telegraph (UK)
REVERSING FIELD
Britain agrees to go along with EU plan to grant artists resale rights on their work. Under the plan, artists would get a maximum of four per cent on the resale of their work on art worth up to £30,000, and smaller percentages for higher-valued work. British Art Federation chairman Anthony Browne says the damage to London’s galleries would be “colossal”. – London Evening Standard
- Plan could wipe out 5,000 jobs. – The Guardian