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Category Archives: Cy Pres

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The Art Law Report Turns Three: the Training Wheels are Off

Posted in Copyright, Cy Pres, Deaccession, Detroit Bankruptcy, Fair Use, Gurlitt Collection, Restitution

As I have before, I wanted to mark the third anniversary of this blog since we posted three articles on September 15, 2011.  In the last year, you (the reader) have helped the Report grow beyond our most optimistic hopes.  We have done our best to cover significant events like the Gurlitt saga and restitution issues, the… Continue Reading

Corcoran Merger Approved, Cy Prés Ruling Treats Deaccession as Non-Starter in Concluding that Status Quo is Untenable

Posted in Cy Pres, Deaccession, Museums, Trusts

 As reported initially, Judge Robert Okun of the District of Columbia Superior Court allowed yesterday the cy prés petition by the trustees of the Corcoran Gallery and the Corcoran College of Art + Design.  The full opinion can be read here.  The petition asked to reform the trust of William Corcoran to permit a merger… Continue Reading

Court Grants Corcoran Cy Pres Petition to Merge with National Gallery and George Washington University

Posted in Cy Pres, Deaccession, Museums, Trusts

News broke this afternoon that Judge Robert Okun has allowed the Corcoran Gallery and Corcoran College of Art + Design’s News broke this afternoon that Judge Robert Okun has allowed the Corcoran Gallery and Corcoran College of Art + Design’s cy prés petition to modify their governing trust to merge operations with the National Gallery… Continue Reading

Corcoran Cy Prés Trial Wraps Up, Whether Judge Thinks Deaccessioning is Worse than the Alternatives Will Influence Final Result

Posted in Cy Pres, Deaccession, Museums, Trusts

The two-week trial over the possible reformation of the Corcoran Gallery and the Corcoran College of Art + Design ended last week, with Judge Robert Okun expected to rule by the end of the month. The trustees, as proponents of cy prés reformation, put of a case of dire financial straits.  Without reformation and merger… Continue Reading

First Week of Corcoran Cy Prés Hearing Wraps Up, Focus is on Financial Condition and Other Alternatives to Proposed Merger

Posted in Cy Pres, Deaccession, Museums, Trusts

Judge Robert Okun closed the first week of hearings yesterday on the proposed modifications to the Corcoran Gallery and the Corcoran Gallery of Art + Design in Washington, DC.  The Corcoran’s trustees have petitioned the DC Superior Court for cy prés, to modify the trust that governs the two institutions to allow mergers with the… Continue Reading

Not so Fast—Intervention into Corcoran Cy Pres Case Allowed for Current Students and Employees, “Save the Corcoran” Turned Away

Posted in Cy Pres, Deaccession, Museums, Trusts

The Washington Business Journal‘s Rebecca Cooper tweeted today from the courtroom today that District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Robert Okun has allowed in part the motion to intervene in the Corcoran Gallery cy prés petition.  Reports are that current students of the College of Art + Design, as well as current Corcoran employees were… Continue Reading

District of Columbia DA Supports Corcoran Cy Pres Petition, Focuses on Potential Sanctions for Deaccession

Posted in Cy Pres, Deaccession, Museums, Trusts

The Washington, DC District Attorney Irvin Nathan has filed his brief concerning the Corcoran Gallery’s cy prés petition to reform the museum and College of Art + Design with the National Gallery of Art and George Washington University.  To put it succinctly, “The District supports entry of the Proposed Order because the proposed cy pres… Continue Reading

Corcoran Trustees Respond to “Save the Corcoran” Motion to Intervene, Argue That Challengers Lack Distinct Interest

Posted in Cy Pres, Deaccession, Museums, Trusts

The trustees of the Corcoran Gallery and the Corcoran College of Art +Design have responded to the recent motion by a group of students, faculty, staff, and interested supporters have filed a motion to intervene in the Corcoran’s cy prés petition to merge with the National Gallery of Art and George Washington University.  The proposed… Continue Reading

Corcoran Cy Pres Petition Challenged by Students, Staff and Community Group. Will “Save the Corcoran” Be Another “Friends of the Barnes” Case?

Posted in Cy Pres, Deaccession, Museums, Trusts

After months of uncertainty about the future of the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, the Corcoran’s Trustee’s filed a petition on June 17, 2014 for cy pres—to revise the terms of the trust that administers the museum and the Corcoran College of Art + Design.  The Corcoran’s financial condition, they argue, make the… Continue Reading

Barnes Foundation Relocation Under Attack Again but Unlikely to Come Out Differently

Posted in Collections, Cy Pres

The Barnes relocation, and challenges to it, are both in the news again.  Apparently former Barnes CEO Kimberly Camp—who held that office when much of the push was made to justify the need to relocate to Center City in Philadelphia—posted a blog entry about the financial condition of the Foundation at the time.  She writes:… Continue Reading

Barnes Foundation Case Dismissed, Relocation to Philadelphia Will Proceed

Posted in Collections, Cy Pres, Standing, Trusts

To paraphrase the famous Saturday Night Live skit about General Francisco Franco: this just in: Museum members and supporters still cannot go to court to challenge the administration of the institution.  The Barnes Foundation has defeated the latest challenge to its right to move from its original home in Lower Merion outside of Philadelphia to… Continue Reading