Museum-killers: bugs of two kinds
It’s getting rough out there for museums and their staff. The coronavirus pandemic poses an existential threat to museums as well as for-profit businesses nationwide. And it’s all due to bugs.
The coronavirus is the immediate bug threat: American museums are struggling to survive without paying visitors, who are stuck in quarantine. A survey of 760 museum directors last month showed they’ve laid off or furloughed 44% of their staff. Without major financial aid, one-third of the museum heads worry they may be forced to shut down permanently in 16 months — if their operating budgets even last that long.
And then there’s the other kind of bug.
Gray silverfish are less of a problem at UK museums during normal times. Source: Wikimedia Commons
It’s more difficult for museums in Britain to keep gray silverfish and other pests from damaging the collections when all the staff are stuck at home. No museum visitors are scaring away the bugs from the public areas, either, and the insects are more active in warmer weather as well. So the bugs pretty much have the place to themselves.
Don’t you want to see art in real life again, instead of online? Remember to mask up, y’all. The sooner we flatten the infection curve, the sooner we get to enjoy our museums.
Getting a city to buy your artwork
“Your Honor, the jury has reached a verdict: we need to spend money on art, for the good of Seattle’s residents, its employees and its artists. The following are the artworks we recommend the city adding to its art collection...”
Artist Colleen Monette’s reaction to learning her collage will enter Seattle’s municipal art collection.
Okay, it didn’t actually go down like that. But it did take a while for me and four other art professionals to review the applications — 816 of them, with one to four artworks submitted per application. It’s usually between 100 to 200 applications. But a check from the city for your art looks really good while COVID-19 keeps people at home and spending less.
A mural on a boarded-up business reminds viewers that the coronavirus quarantine will end soon.
Here’s what I learned, as a panelist, that might strengthen your application next year.
Submit at least one ‘challenging’ work: Yes, even for an office setting. I remember an artwork with clear references to European colonialism, and it still made the final cut. The hope is that the work prompts uncomfortable but important conversations and action, from visitors and employees alike.
Avoid overthinking your art submission: Never mind picking “office-friendly” art. Submit at least one piece you love, even if you’re sure it’s too weird/ dark/ whatever. One application contained a single artwork that would probably fit into any office. We didn’t pick it.
Give it another shot: Apply again next year, especially if the panelists change every year. That means new people who might choose artworks totally unlike what the city already owns. Also, city art budgets expand and contract. It’s very possible the jurors adored your work, but ran out of money this year.
One last thing: signing up for an arts organization’s mailing list is worth it. You’re less likely to miss out on — or miss the deadline for — an opportunity that’s crying out for your work. Congratulations to Colleen Monette and the other selected artists!
Seattle Art Fair: Same time, next year?
This too shall pass, thanks to the pandemic. The 2020 Seattle Art Fair has been canceled.
I’ve enjoyed attending the fair every year; I go each day if I can. And this year, I’m making work for an exhibit that would’ve coincided with the fair dates. As far as I know, my show will go on. But who knows? The ‘Rona has dismantled a lot of plans since March.
Seattle Art Fair’s first year, 2015
Vulcan Arts + Entertainment runs the fair, and their announcement said they “look forward to a time when we can gather again to showcase the vibrant arts community here in the Pacific Northwest.” And that’s the billion-dollar question: when can we gather again for the fair — if we gather?
Right now, Vulcan A + E is busy renovating the Cinerama movie theater, among other projects. I’m just wondering if all that money out the door means the company will just call it a day for the Seattle Art Fair.