Museums generally have many more objects than they can exhibit. So there have been proposals to “use it or lose it” whereby museums could divest themselves of objects they may no longer want, or might profitably sell. But “the fate of artefacts should be kept away from the demands of the purse or politics. That way they are free from being manipulated by politicians or by threats to a collection in a funding crisis. Museums are not shops or businesses. They were founded in order to ensure the survival of and research into artefacts, manuscripts and works of art. Short-term financial gain would be achieved at the expense of the fundamental purpose of the institution. It is not always predictable in the present what will be regarded as interesting in the future.”
Tag: 02.04
Between Diversity And Common Dreams
Britain has become ever more diverse in the past few decades. But is this a threat or an advantage? “When solidarity and diversity pull against each other, which side should public policy favour? Diversity can increasingly look after itself – the underlying drift of social and economic development favours it. Solidarity, on the other hand, thrives at times of adversity, hence its high point just after the second world war and its steady decline ever since as affluence, mobility, value diversity and (in some areas) immigration have loosened the ties of a common culture.”
Top 25 Photography Collectors
Photography is becoming more and more prized as a collectible. “You know you are truly obsessed when you buy something that is destined for your print cabinet—not your wall.” Here is ARTnews’ list of the world’s top 25 collectors.
When Biology and Technology Converge
We’ve tended to distinguish sharply between things and biology. Biology has always occupied a special status, but “advances in fields as disparate as computer science and genetics are dealing our status another blow. Researchers are learning that markets and power grids have much in common with plants and animals. Their findings lead to a startling conclusion: Life isn’t the exception, but the rule.”