| Museum Acquisition Policies | |
AIA Response to New Museum Acquisition Guidelines
The AIA applauds the AAMD's revision of its Report and Guidelines on the Acquisition of Archaeological Materials and Ancient Art released on June 4. These new guidelines incorporate many principles that the AIA has long advocated. Among these are requirements that a museum publish its acquisition policy, and that information regarding any new acquisition, including both provenance background and an image, be made publicly accessible. The AAMD Report also acknowledges that museums have an obligation not to acquire antiquities in a way that will provide a direct and material incentive to looting, and that increased cooperation with countries of origin is the way to achieve both protection of archaeological sites and the continued collecting of antiquities in a responsible manner. Finally, and most importantly, the AAMD has now accepted the standard of 1970 (the date of completion of the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property) as a fixed cut-off date for determining whether an undocumented work of ancient art or artifact can be acquired.
Museums Taxed by New Allegations
A five-year federal investigation in southern California has uncovered tax fraud and antiquities laundering, raising more questions about museums and the illicit trade in artifacts. The museums served with search warrants Thursday, January 24, were the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Bowers Museum in Orange County, the Mingei International Museum in San Diego, and the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena. In the days since the initial raids, the investigation has expanded to include Mesoamerican artifacts, a collector in Chicago who serves on the board of the Art Institute there, and a gallery in Encino, California. In the following opinion piece, Robert Bagley, a specialist in Asian art and archaeology at Princeton University, and Patty Gerstenblith, director of DePaul University’s program in art and cultural heritage law, weigh in on the complicity of museums in the looting of cultural material—and offer some alternatives.
Indianapolis Museum of Art Declares Moratorium on Antiquities Acquisitions
The Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) notes with approval the moratorium
on the acquisition of undocumented antiquities declared by the Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA) on April 16, 2007, which will remain in effect while the IMA "evaluates and reframes" its current policies on the collection of antiquities and ancient art. "We hope it will be a small step towards stemming the tide of illegal excavation or clandestine removal of accidentally discovered objects from countries the world over," said IMA Director and CEO Maxwell Anderson in an internet posting on April 30. The AIA applauds this effort by the IMA and encourages the museum to adopt a permanent acquisitions policy that will include all of the principles stated in the moratorium.
Many Happy Returns
By repatriating disputed antiquities, museums will be able to bring even more of the ancient world to the public.
From the President, Jane C. Waldbaum, November/December 2006
Getty Museum Strengthens Acquisition Policies
October 23, 2006
The Archaeological Institute of America congratulates the J. Paul Getty Museum for its recent decision to strengthen its acquisition policies for works of art including ancient art and archaeological materials.
Untold Stories
Looted objects are robbed of meaning.
From the President, Jane C. Waldbaum, July/August 2006
AIA Calls For Responsible Museum Acquisitions Policies
February 28, 2006
In response to the Association of Art Museum Directors' (AAMD) new guidelines on the loan of archaeological artifacts and ancient artworks, the Archaeological Institute of America issued a statement pointing out its shortcomings and proposed a set of principles for future acquisitions or loans of antiquities by American museums.
Landmark Decision
A challenge to museums and a blow to antiquities traffickers
From the President, Nancy C. Wilkie, May/June 2002
Tarnished Reputations
September/October 1998
Antiquities Scandal
March/April 1998
Getty Gets Fleischman Collection
September/October 1996
AIA Resolutions on the Importation of Antiquities
December 1973
Publication of Undocumented Antiquities
AIA Response to "Statement of Concern"
AIA Publications Policy
As publications of the Archaeological Institute of America, the American Journal of Archaeology and ARCHAEOLOGY will not serve for the announcement or initial scholarly presentation of any object in a private or public collection acquired after December 30, 1973, unless its existence is documented before that date, or it was legally exported from the country of origin. An exception may be made if, in the view of the Editor, the aim of publication is to emphasize the loss of archaeological context. Reviews of exhibitions, catalogues, or publications that do not follow these guidelines should state that the exhibition or publication in question includes material without known archaeological findspot.
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