April 29, 2010; Source: BBC | We recently reported on the so-called Americanization of the European arts funding model. Now museums in the UK are finding ways to collaborate. A study by the charity Art Fund found that the acquisitions at local museums are slowing, impeded by state cutbacks. Rather than layoff staff, a move that would sacrifice their expertise and make it more difficult to stay relevant, museums are increasingly borrowing works from each other’s collections. Sometimes—in fact, ten percent of the time, the study says—museums are jointly acquiring pieces, a trend curators expect will rise. Advocates like the Art Fund are already keeping an eye on what’s working and what isn’t—a wise move since the majority of survey respondents anticipate further cutbacks.—James David Morgan
