Fluther: If an art museum is publicly funded,how much should public opinion ...

If an art museum is publicly funded,how much should public opinion count when displaying potentially controversial art?

Asked by lucillelucillelucille (34325

) July 1st, 2020
9 responses
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Topics: art, money, opinions

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Could you give an example of controversial art?

LostInParadise (31905

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Public funding is not tied to public opinion. Most museums have a few large benefactors and many many small donations.

Tropical_Willie (31119

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@LostInParadise -Anything that riles people up.
An exhibition of Robert Mapplethorpe’s photography caused an uproar back in the 80’s.

lucillelucillelucille (34325

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@Tropical_Willie -No matter how big or how small, should the benefactors have a say so in what gets displayed or purchased?

lucillelucillelucille (34325

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They have the say sometimes of who is the Director and Curators. They (Director and Curators) are the decision makers for exhibits and items to be hung or displayed. I’ve known a couple of curators.

Tropical_Willie (31119

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@Tropical_Willie – I wonder how much importance the benefactor’s opinions should be given?
If at all?

lucillelucillelucille (34325

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Interesting article about Henry Ford Museum. The article about Henry Ford’s antisemitism and Dearborn Mayor, This is sort of a reverse position, city publishes a quarterly magazine. Editor fired for article about Henry Ford antisemitism !

Tropical_Willie (31119

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@Tropical_Willie -I remember that.

lucillelucillelucille (34325

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