I wrote these for the City of Glendale AZ, which were then adopted by the Arts Commission.  You may need adoption by ordinance though.

 

I.               Deaccessioning for the Portable Art Collection. The Glendale Arts Commission shall make every effort to represent the broad variety of tastes within the community. To create a balanced inventory, the Commission needs to ensure a variety of style, design, and media. In addition, the Commission will seeks to ensure that the portable collection contains art of the highest possible quality and artistic merit. In order to ensure a high quality and broad portable works collection, the city’s portable art collection shall be evaluated by staff every seven years in order to determine which works, if any, will be deaccessioned. It is recognized that the deaccessioning of artworks is a delicate matter, and must be handled with the greatest diplomacy. Any apprehension on the part of donors and/or artists that their gifts/works might be disposed of to pay operating expenses or to satisfy the individual tastes or desires of the Commission, could easily discourage and alienate potential donors and/or artists. A periodic and routine evaluation based on staff expertise will address those concerns. The Commission has an obligation to maintain the collection for the benefit of Glendale citizens. It is desirable that no artwork be deaccessioned from the city’s portable art collection before five years from the date of acquisition have elapsed. Staff will make reasonable efforts to notify the artist whose work is being considered for deaccessioning. The Glendale Arts Commission will consider the following guidelines in deaccessioning an artwork in the Portable Art Collection:

  1. The Arts Commission has become aware that the artwork does not have a licit provenance.
  2. If the works are forgeries or fakes. The Commission is responsible for ensuring that any forgery or fake it disposes of, be identified as such when it leaves the city’s collection.
  3. The condition or security of the artwork cannot be reasonably guaranteed.
  4. Works whose condition requires restoration in gross excess of their aesthetic value, or works in such a deteriorated state that restoration would prove either unfeasible or misleading.
  5. If the works are duplicates (e.g., prints, multiples, sculptures) of lesser quality of works already in the collection.
  6. If the works represent in large quantity from a single artist of minor stature. In such a case, the Commission may find it both sufficient and desirable to retain only a representative selection.
  7. There has been sustained and overwhelming public objection to the artwork over a five-year period.
  8. If the work has little or no aesthetic and/or historical/cultural value; or is a copy or pastiche without significant historical, documentary, or aesthetic value.
  9. If the city cannot properly care for or store the works. This may require that a certain number of works be evaluated for deaccessioning.

 

II.              Deaccessioning for the Permanent Art Collection. The Arts Commission shall make every effort to represent the broad variety of tastes within the community. To create a balanced inventory, the Commission needs to ensure a variety in style, design, and media. In addition, the Commission will seek to ensure that the permanent collection contains art of the highest possible quality and artistic merit. It is recognized that the deaccessioning of art works is a delicate matter, and must be handled with the greatest diplomacy. Any apprehension on the part of artists that their works might be disposed of to pay operating expenses or to satisfy the individual tastes or desires of the Commission, could easily discourage and alienate potential artists. It is therefore desirable that no artwork be deaccessioned from the city’s permanent collection before five years from the date of installation have elapsed. Staff will make reasonable efforts to notify the artist whose work is being considered for deaccessioning. The Glendale Arts Commission will consider the following guidelines in deaccessioning an artwork in the Permanent Art Collection:

  1. The Arts Commission has become aware that the artwork does not have a licit provenance.
  2. If the work is a forgery or fakes. The Commission is responsible for ensuring that any forgery or fake it disposes of, be identified as such when it leaves the City’s collection.
  3. The condition or security of the artwork cannot be reasonably guaranteed.
  4. Works whose condition requires restoration in gross excess of their aesthetic value or works in such a deteriorated state that restoration would prove either unfeasible or misleading.
  5. There has been sustained and strong public objection to the artwork over a five-year period.
  6. If the site where the artwork is located is undergoing changes due to capital improvements or redevelopment such that the site is no longer appropriate for the artwork. In such instances, every effort to relocate the artwork to another appropriate location shall be made in consultation with the artist and subject to the artist’s approval.

 

 

 

 

Jana L Weldon

Beautification, Arts & Sciences Program Manager

928.863.4298 (Primary: Work Cell)

928.213.2969 (Desk/Voicemail Only)

6 E Aspen Ave, Suite 200

Flagstaff, AZ 86001

“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” Thoreau

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Bed, Board & Beverage Tax Funds benefit

Beautification, Arts & Sciences

 

 

From: public_art_network@americansforthearts.simplelists.com <public_art_network@americansforthearts.simplelists.com> On Behalf Of Tomora Wright
Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2024 10:21 AM
To: public_art_network@americansforthearts.simplelists.com
Subject: Deaccession Policy Returning Artworks to Artists

 

Greetings All,

 

I am searching for policies and guidelines for deaccessioning artwork and returning the artwork to the artist. Our current guidelines prohibit us from gifting, selling, or returning artwork, as the artwork is a publicly owned item/ property under the County. We are trying to find support to convey 1) that the artwork should be offered back to the artist if it no longer serves the collection and 2) that artwork is not a surplus item like furniture or electronics that can be auctioned or disposed of. Do you know about any policies that make this distinction? Please direct me to any documents that might be useful in this context.

 

Many thanks,

 

Tomora Wright

Public Art Project Manager

Arlington Cultural Affairs | Arlington Arts

Arlington Economic Development

twright1@arlingtonva.us | 703.228.3771 office

Telecommuting Tuesdays and Fridays

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