Fred:
I'm not aware of a formal industry-wide code of ethics, such as the AAM or AAMD codes, that deals specifically with these issues. However, in my experience most art museums do not permit their own employees to submit artworks for exhibitions such a juried show of the work of local artists. Even if the employee has no influence on the selection of works for exhibition, the possible perception of a conflict is typically judged sufficient to warrant a prohibition on employees submitting their work for consideration. This prohibition may not be specified in an institutional code of ethics, but may instead be outlined in the prospectus for the juried exhibition. In some institutions the prohibition is extended to include members of the immediate family of Museum employees. Inclusion of an employee's artwork as an illustration in a museum publication is usually avoided for the same reasons. Note, in one respect the AAM Code of Ethics speaks to this in very broad language. In its section on Programs it notes that "programs [should] promote the public good rather than individual financial gain." Inclusion of an employee's artwork in either a Museum exhibit or publication can be viewed as promoting this individual's work and thus potentially resulting in individual financial gain for the employee.
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John E. Coraor
Cultural Management Partners LLC
Huntington, NY
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-11-2019 05:11 PM
From: Fred Nation
Subject: Art Museum Employee Show participation
Is there an ethics policy on employees of an art museum entering their own museum show? Or using museum employees art works (not works created for this specific reason) featured in museum publications?
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Fred Nation
Executive Director
Swope Art Museum
Terre Haute, Indiana
Fred
Nation@Swope.org
812-238-1676 ext 113
Terre Haute
Indiana, USA
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