Spotlight falls on artworks in Detroit’s search for sellable assets
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.As Detroit goes down what could be a painful path to resolve its debts, attention has turned to the city assets that might be sold off to raise much-needed funds, including the valuable paintings and other objects that are part of the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Founded in 1885, the DIA’s collection includes an array of renowned works, including Bruegel’s The Wedding Dance and Caravaggio’s The Conversion of the Magdalen.
Owned by the city, questions have been raised about the possiblity of selling some of its holdings to help fund Detroit. Although the city’s emergency manager, Kevyn Orr, yesterday stressed that right now nothing was for sale, some have suggested that works from the collection should be sold to help city finances.
Other assets that might be sold off are the city zoo and the Belle Isle park.
But the director of the DIA, Graham Beal, said he doubted if the city could sell works from the art collection. He cited a recent opinion from the Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, in which he said that the collection is “held by the City of Detroit in charitable trust for the people of Michigan, and no piece in the collection may thus be sold, conveyed, or transferred to satisfy city debts or obligation.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments