Open Forum

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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------Original Message------

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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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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I've curated various art shows and worked with
museums for over 20 years. Just my two cents:

I don't think you should allow employees to participate in a juried show, primarily because the emotional dynamics of winning or losing a spot could likely negatively affect your work culture. Artists make themselves extremely vulnerable in their work. Being turned down for exhibition is emotionally challenging for many and could effect their work satisfaction and professional relationships. People are mostly used to the idea that employees are often excluded from juried shows because of the real or publicly perceived ethical dilemmas. 

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Azure Attoe
Museum Professional
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------Original Message------

I've curated various art shows and worked with
museums for over 20 years. Just my two cents:

I absolutely don't think you should allow employees to participate in a juried show, primarily because the emotional dynamics of winning or losing a spot could likely negatively affect your work culture. Artists make themselves extremely vulnerable in their work. Being turned down for exhibition is emotionally challenging for many and could effect their work satisfaction and professional relationships. There are plenty of other shows for employee-artists and you can nurture their creativity in other ways. 

As for explaining why employees are excluded, I would say don't explain. People are mostly used to the idea that employees are often excluded from juried shows, raffles, etc. Over-explaining makes things awkward. 

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Azure Attoe
Museum Professional and Artist
Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education
Portland OR
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