Detroit safe at last

November 10 2014

Image of Detroit safe at last

Picture: The New York Times

The 'Grand Bargain' put in place to secure Detroit's debts has now been ratified, which means that no art needs to be sold from the Detroit Institute of Art. In effect, over $800m was raised to secure the DIA, from private donations, foundations and the State of Michigan.

More here from Randy Kennedy in the New York Times.

It's an extraordinary feat, and we should all hail the efforts of the DIA's director, Graham W. J. Beal (above). Has there ever been a museum rescue like it? How easy it would have been for him to follow the path of so many other US museums in distress, such as the Delaware Museum of Art, and simply sell stuff. 

Update - there was a good programme on Radio 4 about all this, presented by the excellent Alvin Hall.


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