In NYC there is a very interesting model of privatization of
          museums, in which many of the major museums as well as
          smaller institutions occupy city-owned sites, operate on a
          charter from the City, and receive operating and capital
          support from the City, but are private 501 (c) 3's with
          their own boards. All employees are privately employed,
          though many belong to DC 37, which is a City employees
          union. This model incorporates 31 "cultural institutions" in
          NYC, ranging in size from the Met and the Natural History
          Museum down to the Staten Island Institute of Arts and
          Sciences and Richmondtown Restoration.
 
          This model began at the end of the 19th century, and new
          museums were founded upon this same model as recently as the
          1970's. There are no other "public" museums in the City,
          I'm fairly sure.  The collections belong to the private
          institutions, though I'm not sure if this is universally
          true.
 
          I have found that this relationship has been astoundingly
          successful, creating a cluster of thriving public-private
          partnerships throughout the City.
 
          Eric Siegel
          [log in to unmask]
 
          (I don't *think* I'm the one who posted 187 messages...)