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MANY NEWS

Deaccessioning for the Future: How the Everson Museum of Art will care and diversify its collection for years to come

In April of 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Association of Art Museum Directors relaxed their guidelines for a two year period that will allow museums to deaccession works of art in their collections as long as the proceeds directly support the care of their collections. The Everson Museum of Art relies on funds from its general operating budget to pay for acquisitions, collection care, and rent for two off-site storage facilities. Faced with an estimated 30% decrease in its general operating budget in 2020 due to cuts in funding, lost revenue, and deferred membership renewals, the Everson announced on September 3 that it would put up for auction Jackson Pollock’s Red Composition (1946, oil on Masonite). Funds from the auction of Pollock’s painting (which is estimated to generate between $12M and $18M) will support conservation and restoration of objects in the museum’s current collection and allow the museum to acquire works created by artists of color, women artists, and other underrepresented creators. Elizabeth Dunbar, Executive Director of the Everson Museum of Art stated that “by deaccessioning a single artwork, we can make enormous strides in building a collection that reflects the amazing diversity of our community and ensure that it remains accessible to all for generations to come.”

Assessing Affiliation: How Two Museums Are Approaching the Possibility of Affiliation in the Southern Tier

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, 69% of museums who responded to MANY’s COVID-19 impact surveys located in the Southern Tier reported a loss in public funding and that they were reconsidering their visitor experience (MANY COVID-19 Impact Report Part 1). Facing staff layoffs and significant cuts to earned revenue, the Discovery Center and the Roberson Museum and Science Center in Binghamton are discussing affiliating to create a more sustainable organization and to better serve their community.

Museum Association of New York Awarded an IMLS CARES Act Grant

The Museum Association of New York is thrilled to announce that it was awarded an Institute of Museum and Library Services CARES Act Grant to fund “Building Capacity, Creating Sustainability, Growing Accessibility.” This $498,407 award is the second highest in the nation out of 68 grants. This project will enable one hundred museums in high needs locations across New York State impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to share their collections beyond the walls of their museums. Two hundred staff will be trained to use new hardware and software to develop programs that will engage their communities and reach new audiences. 

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Letter from Erika: Building Capacity, Creating Sustainability, Growing Accessibility

Dear Members, Friends, and Colleagues,

MANY is pleased to open the call for participation in “Building Capacity, Creating Sustainability, Growing Accessibility” and extend our thanks to our congressional representatives for their support for the IMLS with CARES Act funding for Museums. 

This project will support 100 museums in high needs locations in the state to help them respond to the COVID-19 pandemic by giving staff the tools and training to reach their communities virtually and raise their profiles with audiences beyond their physical locations. The project will provide museum professionals with hardware, software, and training to develop virtual programs focused on stories from their collections revealing cultural and racial diversity within their communities. Each museum selected to participate will partner with a local library to develop and implement programs that build on the assets of both organizations resulting in access to 200 new virtual programs for audiences - no matter their geographical location.

Call for Nominations to the MANY Board of Directors

The Museum Association of New York (MANY) will have open seats on its Board of Directors and invites nominations for those interested in serving a three-year term beginning in April of 2021 and ending in April of 2024.

MANY Board members engage with the New York museum community and work with colleagues to address the challenges and opportunities for museums in the state. MANY is committed to diversifying its Board by geographic region, museum discipline and budget size, disabilities, skills, race, gender, sexual identity, ethnicity, and age.

MANY staff and board members meet at various locations around the state at least five times a year with one mandatory meeting during the annual conference. Terms are renewable for a second three years and the length of service may change if nominated to serve in an executive committee capacity. The governance of MANY is vested in a duly-elected Board of Directors with responsibilities and obligations for the custody, control, and direction of MANY property and assets under the auspices of New York State statutes, organizational bylaws, and appropriate federal rules and regulations.

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