I am looking to do some reading on where publicly-funded museums in the US
get the money to acquire new objects.  (I assume that most objects are
donated, and have guessed that most funds to acquire new objects are
donated, also, but is this always the case?)

The subject came up over the holidays in conversation with family members
who were surprised to hear me say that public money generally goes to
support museum operations, but not acquisitions.

Now I am wondering if I know what I'm talking about.  I couldn't tell them
exactly how I knew this, or where I had learned it -- I think I've
generalized from a few isolated articles or conversations with curators.
(I'm a graduate student in art history, not a museum professional.)

It seems to me to be an important point to clear up (especially in light of
recurring battles in the culture wars) and I'd like to be better-informed
about funding of cultural institutions in general.

Can anyone suggest good sources of information?

Martha Hagood
Baltimore

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