Detroit Institute of Arts Could Face Art Selloff to Pay City’s Debts

The Detroit Institute of Arts faces the possibility that parts of its renowned collection will be dismantled and auctioned off to help pay billions in debt owed by the now bankrupt city, writes The New York Times.

The collection, which some experts believe could be worth more than $2-billion, could be in jeopardy because the city owns it. Despite protests, Detroit’s emergency manager has hired Christie’s auction house to assess how much the museum is worth as a city asset.

Graham W. J. Beal, the director of the museum, is working to gather support for a proposed law to protect the collection, but supporters worry that as the bankruptcy case drags on, public opinion will shift away from protecting the museum in favor of preserving pensions.