My Word Fall 2023

The ArtTrak Auction was successful and something we shall certainly repeat in the future. Our focus has now shifted to year end charitable donations appraisals which are a good change of pace and an opportunity to work with some great art. Our intern Claire has moved on to work in development for a non profit where she certainly will excel with all the talent she brings. Our new intern Camila Martinez is also a student from the University of Dallas and comes from the Chicago area. Camila has taken over our social media campaigns and has participated in our onsite appraisals. We look to adding at least one more intern after the holidays.

This issue addresses an important topic in the arts. Museums appear to be seeking an identity in providing support for their communities but also in finding relevancy in a changing world. Understanding your museum visitors and your private financial support group has been challenging for museum directors and boards.. The Dallas Museum is in the middle of an expansion and re-design while having to cut 20 full time employees due to budget constraints. Seemingly it is always about the money and who will support the cause. You must ask where is the money coming from.. public or private. It seems less likely public support can be counted on. So who are the deep pockets in the private sector? How old are they? What are their politics? What do they want in a museum? What does the staff want and how do you maintain their morale in this environment? A museum director has to be everything to everybody. And it is a tougher job today than it was ten years ago. It is my opinion that many museums are or will be in deep trouble in the next five to ten years. I am not at all certain that potential museum goers age ten to fifty have been tought by our educational system to value art or museums.