from The New York Times
Commission Preserves the Past at the Cost of the Future
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A critique of the Landmarks Preservation Commission in New York when its decision effect a compromised design for the expansion of the Whitney Museum of American Art. The reason for the Commission's decision seems to be a concern over the razing of one Madison Avenue brownstone if the original expansion plan is approved. As is evident from the title, the author finds the decision 'weak- kneed' as he felt that the Commission's charge is not only to preserve history but to decide when exceptions ought to be made, thus ensuring development for the benefit of the cultural well-being of the city.

from The Art Newspaper
What happens when Flavin’s lights go out?
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In the case of Dan Flavin, the crucial role of the artist's estate as a "final authority" on the preservation the artworks becomes a potentially problematic one. Then again, it does point to an underlying universal that perhaps all preservation decisions are essentially subjective decisions, influenced by a host of factors such as context, material, condition and function.

Also see an earlier post pointing to a New York Times article which highlighted the divergent views between the artist, who saw his art as being temporary, and the collectors of his art.

from Guardian
Power point
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Tate Modern in London has, in the 5 years since its inception, consistently build a museum going culture - witnessed by its ever increasing visitorship numbers - and taking its claim as "the world's most visited museum of contemporary art".

This lofty goal is achieved by making the right decisions in a few critical areas:

(a) Recognising the need for expansion as a result of organic and intrinsic growth (not one imposed due to financial or franchising expediency);

(b) Understanding the need to be cosmopolitan and acting on it;

(c) Be at a highly accessible locale;

(d) Have an iconic architecture (whether built or refurbished does not really matter);

(e) Intelligent art programming (that does not dumb-down but purposefully lead to greater understanding); and

(f) A director that critically value and put into practice the art of keeping touch with artists and audiences.

Now, beat that!

Even the famed "Bilbao Effect" does not come close to sustaining such a level of deep-rooted and fundamental achievement.

from The Telegraph
Scandal of the sheikh and his £1bn shopping spree
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From an earlier post, the mind-boggling museum building and collecting dazzle in Qatar has come to an abrupt halt - with the (usual) accusations of wrong-doing and impropriety.

from Channel News Asia
Asian Film Archive aims to preserve regional films
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from Today
Group to archive Singapore films
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Further update on the launch of the Reel Emergency Project initiative by the Asian Film Archive. The privately-funded initiative to archive made-in-Singapore and Asian films was previously noted in an earlier post here. Now, the National Archives of Singapore has come on board with help in film restoration and preservation expertise.

from The Business Times
S'pore, HK in running for US$250m
Guggenheim
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from The New York Times
A Museum Visionary Envisions More
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from The Business Times
IR bidder offers S'pore redux
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from Today
museums, ad nauseum?
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Piecing together a few seemingly unrelated recent news articles and a less than rosy picture emerges regarding the state of museum development here in Singapore. When the likes of the Guggenheim juggernaut is being touted as a key player in the proposed integrated resort concept in presenting a (Asian) cultural face, something must be amissed.

Have our cultural and heritage institutions been totally ineffective or lacking in ambition (and vision) in creating world-class museums - and not only that - but that which Singaporeans would be decidedly proud of? The (possible) coming of Singapore's own version of the "Bilbao effect" - and the tacit admission that home-grown efforts in cultural heritage in Singapore is still pretty much considered a backwater - can only serve as a wake-up call, if nothing else.