Indianapolis Museum of Art

Gustave Baumann's Estes Park, Colorado (Mountain Lake), tempera over graphite on oatmeal paper, Gift of Ann Baumann to the IMA


Jim Parker's Dot Series #7.73, acrylic on canvas, Deaccessioned On December 18th 2008 by the IMA, Auction Sale Date: To Be Determined Valuation Estimated Value - $500

The Indianapolis Museum of Art is in a process of deaccessioning a lot of it's work. The museum began reassessing its archives in 2007, in which it identified works which are to be sold, transferred or exchanged for other works. So far the furniture, antiquities, textiles, American painting, European painting and contemporary collections have been reviewed and assessed. Other forms such as Asian and African art are yet to be reviewed.

What is very interesting is that each item that has been reviewed and and selected to be deaccessioned, is listed on their website. Here you can see its date of departure, the new recipient/s of the work and the transfer/auction date.

In addition to this, you can also view their list of recent acquisitions here. All of the details of the works are provided and you can also contribute to the section.

This policy of transparency, to my knowledge is unprecedented (although I hope I'm wrong). Also, each item that has left the museum will still remain a part of its archive database, as well as it's new items (of course) and will soon listed on the site for the public. All of the funds raised gets funneled back into its kitty to buy new works.