Thursday, October 3, 2024
Indiana Court Approves Valparaiso University's Controversial Art Sale Plan
Artnet reports that a trial court in Indiana has approved the proposed sale by Valparaiso University of three artworks, concluding that "it is no longer economically or practically feasible to display those three paintings, and that keeping those three paintings in storage would only impair, not enhance, the original purpose of the Trust." The Trust referred to is the Percy Sloan Trust, the donor of the funds used to purchase the art at issue. The three artworks (one of which is pictured here) are estimated to be worth $20 million. The court's actual order does not appear to be available publicly.
The university's plan has been opposed by the namesake founding director of the Brauer Museum of Art at the University, and by the leadership of several national museum organizations. It appears, however, that no party was willing to fund a legal challenge to the University's petition in court, and the Indiana Attorney General did not object to the petition. The Museum itself has been closed since June 2024, with no re-opening date announced.
Additional coverage: Chicago Tribune (subscription required).
Lloyd Mayer
https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/nonprofit/2024/10/indiana-court-approves-valparaiso-universitys-controversial-art-sale-plan.html
Comments
for context, all the pleadings and motions are also available
https://public.courts.in.gov/mycase/#/vw/CaseSummary/eyJ2Ijp7IkNhc2VUb2tlbiI6IkFYZ0o4cVZJM3RHZTBSMUoxUnJZREpFb2RobUo1eDlpQW9pVmlBd3pmR0kxIn19
Posted by: russ willis | Oct 4, 2024 11:36:56 AM
the order is available online, I have a copy on my desktop right now, one page, granting defendants' joint motion to dismiss for lack of standing, and dismissing the separate claim against the state AG for failure to state a claim
Posted by: russ willis | Oct 4, 2024 11:26:40 AM