Reacting to the latest rent in Bill Cosby’s tattered reputation, National Museum of African Art has quietly revised the Message to Our Visitors regarding its exhibition of works from the comedian’s African-American art collection.
The latest text begins like this:
Allegations that publicly surfaced when we opened this exhibition in November 2014, now combined with recent criminal charges brought against Mr. Cosby in Pennsylvania [emphasis added], cast a negative light on what should be a joyful exploration of African and African American art in this gallery.
The National Museum of African Art in no way condones Mr. Cosby’s behavior.
Montgomery County Sheriff
If the Smithsonian is lucky, it won’t have to revise this text to reflect further news developments before the show comes down this Sunday. As I’ve discussed in great detail—here and here—the de-installation of this ill-fated show should be followed not only with a sigh of relief by beleaguered Smithsonian staffers, but also with the immediate, rigorous revision of our federal museums’ policies, to insure that such a debacle never happens again.
The new guidelines should prohibit all pay-to-play displays like the Cosby show (bankrolled by $716,000 from his wife, a board member of National Museum of African Art). More importantly, the exhibition, wall texts and catalogue should focus solely on the merits of the artworks, not the donors.
Single-collector shows should be mounted rarely, and only if the quality of the works is so extraordinary that there is strong public benefit in giving them wide exposure. That exposure should be conditioned on a written agreement barring the sale of those works for several years after they have acquired the prestige of the museum’s imprimatur.
The worst-case scenario would be for some of the Cosbys’ art holdings to be liquidated after they leave the museum’s walls, defraying legal fees or the costs of settlements in this sorry saga.
The best-case scenario would be lasting reforms in museum practice, not only at the Smithsonian but at all museums considering single-donor shows.