Metropolitan Museum of Art May Sell Art to Solve COVID Money Woes

Last week, Max Hollein, the director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, said the museum was considering selling work from its collection to help it balance its budget. “It would be inappropriate for us not to consider it,” he said, “when we’re still in this foggy situation.” The “foggy situation” he cites is the financial mess — everywhere except among the very rich and the biggest corporations — caused by the COVID fiasco. I don’t think the honchos at the Met ever have giddy, spontaneous moments with reporters. The museum’s considering it seriously, if it hasn’t already budgeted the income.

My advice is simple. Don’t raid the collection for cash. The Met is America’s leading museum. It has no peer, but it sets a standard. If it flogs a few Renoirs to balance the books, no one will miss them. The museum’s collection numbers in the millions of objects. If the Met does it, though, trustees all across the country will squeeze their museums to do the same. And they’ll be a lot less judicious than the Met. The Met needs to set an example through restraint.

About the Author

Brian T. Allen

Brian T. Allen is National Review’s art critic.

Last week, Max Hollein, the director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, said the museum was considering selling work from its collection to help it balance its budget. “It would be inappropriate for us not to consider it,” he said, “when we’re still in this foggy situation.” The “foggy situation” he cites is the financial mess — everywhere except among the very rich and the biggest corporations — caused by the COVID fiasco. I don’t think the honchos at the Met ever have giddy, spontaneous moments with reporters. The museum’s considering it seriously, if it hasn’t already budgeted the income.

My advice is simple. Don’t raid the collection for cash. The Met is America’s leading museum. It has no peer, but it sets a standard. If it flogs a few Renoirs to balance the books, no one will miss them. The museum’s collection numbers in the millions of objects. If the Met does it, though, trustees all across the country will squeeze their museums to do the same. And they’ll be a lot less judicious than the Met. The Met needs to set an example through restraint.