American Federation of Arts

Contact:  Lisbeth Mark, Director of Communications

New York, September 28, 1999 - In response to the September 22nd
announcement by Rudolph W. Giuliani, Mayor of the City of New York, that
he would seek to cut off all city funding to the Brooklyn Museum of Art
(BMA) unless it cancels the exhibition Sensation:  Young British Artists
from the Saatchi Collection, the American Federation of Arts (AFA)
issued the following statement today:

We support the Brooklyn Museum of Art, a member of the AFA, and its
director, Arnold L. Lehman, who serves on the AFA's Board of Trustees,
in the presentation of the traveling exhibition, Sensation:  Young
British Artists from the Saatchi Collection.  We are deeply concerned by
the announcement of Rudolph W. Giuliani, Mayor of the City of New York,
to withhold city funding to the BMA if the exhibition opens.  The AFA is
also concerned that the Mayor is challenging the BMA for violating the
terms of its lease with the city.

For 90 years, a principal activity of the AFA has been to organize and
travel art exhibitions.  We are in a unique position to understand their
special place in the cultural landscape.  Traveling exhibitions (the BMA
is the sole venue in North America for Sensations) and the public
programs they engender, help globalize art and extend the ability of
art, in its infinitely varied forms, to inform, educate, and enrich
people's lives.

It is appropriate for a democratic government-for the people it
serves-to support the arts.  There is a long, distinguished history of
public financial support for art institutions in this country.  However,
it is not appropriate for a democratic government to dictate what art to
display.  The First Amendment guarantees that.  Similarly, it is not
appropriate for a democratic government to dictate what art should not
be displayed.

By withholding funds to the BMA, Mayor Giuliani is punishing the museum
for bringing a challenging exhibition-on view previously in London and
Berlin-to New York City, the cultural center of the world.

We urge the Mayor not to interrupt New York City's full financial
support of the BMA.

*        *        *

The American Federation of Arts (AFA) is the nation's oldest non-profit
art museum service organization.  The AFA provides its more than 550
member institutions with traveling art exhibitions and educational,
professional, and technical support programs developed in conjunction
with the museum community.  Through these programs, the AFA seeks to
strengthen the ability of museums to enrich the public's experience and
understanding of art.
Serena Rattazzi, Director.

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ museum-l.html. You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to
[log in to unmask] The body of the message should read "Signoff
Museum-L" (without the quotes).