As CultureGrrl readers know, the Getty reported
on its website
that, due to financial constraints, it would discontinue paying for and
maintaining the Bibliography of the History of Art (BHA), which in 2008
was renamed the
International Bibliography of Art (IBA). The Getty’s support for that premier art-history research database was to end Jan. 1 (later extended to today, Mar. 31).
But there’s a new (as yet unannounced) development. This just in from Thomas Gaehtgens, director of the Getty Research
Institute, in response to my query yesterday about the BHA’s fate:
The Getty will send out a press release tomorrow [Thursday] with very good news. The GRI has worked hard to make this possible.
For now, it’s good to imagine that the unthinkable is not going to happen. Let’s hope this is a long-term, solidly-funded rescue and no April Fools’ joke!
UPDATE: Read it and weep.