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Tag Archives: Detroit

Salon Piece Confirms Primacy of State Law in Detroit Bankruptcy Dispute

By Nicholas O'Donnell on Posted in Bankruptcy, Collections, Detroit Bankrupcty

Professor Adam J. Levitin of Georgetown has an excellent piece in Salon this week that adds to what I like to call the sober group of discussions about the Detroit Institute of Art collection  in the context of the City of Detroit Bankruptcy.  From a learned perspective, Professor Levitin echoes some of the themes we’ve… Continue Reading

City of Detroit Hires Christie’s to Appraise Detroit Institute of Arts Collection

By Nicholas O'Donnell on Posted in Collections, Detroit Bankrupcty, Museums

In connection with the Detroit bankruptcy, auction house Christie’s announced on Monday that it has been hired to “assist and advise on how to realize value for the city while leaving the art in the city’s ownership.”  According to the Christie’s press release, the auction house was hired by the City of Detroit itself, which has… Continue Reading

Detroit Institute of Arts Deaccessioning: Municipal Bankruptcy, Existing and Proposed Changes to Michigan Law Affect Debate

By Nicholas O'Donnell on Posted in Bankruptcy, Collections, Deaccession, Legislation, Museums

An important qualifier to the discussion about deaccessioning and the Detroit Institute of Arts is that although DIA is a subdivision of the bankruptcy debtor (Detroit), that debtor is not any old commercial entity.  Rather, Detroit is a municipality, and municipal and state debtors are governed by slightly different rules than private parties.  The underlying… Continue Reading