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The Langmatt Museum in Baden wants to sell pictures to ensure operations. Critics describe this as breaking a taboo.
The Langmatt Museum in Baden is being renovated for CHF 19 million. The city of Baden pays for almost half of this. That has been clear since the referendum on Sunday. In order for the museum to survive in the long term, however, it needs an additional 40 million. In addition, Langmatt wants to sell one to three pictures from its own collection. The collection includes 50 paintings by French Impressionists such as Cézanne, Monet and Gauguin.
Sale would be against guidelines
The planned sale of pictures is now being heavily criticized. “It is clear to them that they are doing something here that means breaking a dam and violating a taboo,” says Tobia Bezzola. He is President of Icom Switzerland, the local section of the international museum association of Unesco. “It challenges principled agreements and consensus.”
It’s stupid and unwise to do that.
The consensus among museums worldwide is that the collection will not be touched and sold. Many museums received works as gifts or legacies. “When museums start selling pictures, they no longer receive legacies and donations. On a very pragmatic level, it’s stupid and unwise to do that,” said Bezzola.
Works of art are deliberately passed on to museums by their owners and not sold, so that they can be exhibited publicly.
The exclusion threatens
Tobia Bezzola fears that selling the Langmatt could put museums across the country under pressure. Most Swiss museums are at least partially owned by the public sector. “There is a risk that politicians will come up with the idea: If the museum wants something, then sell pictures. This sale will weaken the Langmatt, harm her.”
Legend:
ZVG/Museum Langmatt
After a sale of one or more works worth 40 million francs, the collection would no longer be the same. The consequence: Langmatt would be excluded from Icom.
Search for money was unsuccessful
Markus Stegmann, the director of the Langmatt Museum, is aware of all this. “It is a difficult and painful step for us. But there is no other way to save the museum.”
The museum cannot be saved otherwise.
For years they had been looking for financiers and had talks with a wide variety of potential investors. “But there’s no one in sight.”
Legend:
Director Markus Stegmann in front of a picture that started the Browns’ collecting career. The Brown family of industrialists used to live in Villa Langmatt. Inventor Charles Brown was a co-founder of the BBC (today technology group ABB).
SRF
Stegmann also questions the international ethical guidelines. “The existential threat that we have with Langmatt simply does not occur.” The guidelines no longer fit today. A time when the public sector in many places provided less money for culture and cultural institutions.
Auction at the end of the year
Even the criticism of the museum association does not stop the Langmatt Museum from selling works from its collection. After the summer holidays it should be clear which pictures will be auctioned at the end of the year. According to Markus Stegmann, talks are currently being held with several auction houses worldwide.