WALTHAM, Mass. — Speaking publicly for the first time on a proposal to close the Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University to the public, the family of the museum’s benefactors sharply criticized university officials on Monday for what it called a planned “plundering” of its collection. The family insisted that the museum remain open and that none of its works be sold to raise money.
The university’s trustees voted in January to close the museum and sell its works, which are estimated to be worth about $350 million. The university later backtracked, saying the Rose would remain open as an academic fine arts center, but not a public museum. It has put together a panel to help determine the museum’s fate; its first meeting is Thursday.“ ‘Re-purposing’ the museum is closing by another name,” 50 family members said in a statement released Monday night at a symposium at the Rose. “It would not be the Rose. Any other understanding of the university’s current plan is disinformation.
“The art has been put on the auction block. The museum has been put on the chopping block.”
In an interview, Meryl Rose, speaking for the family, said the university’s initial announcement had already harmed the museum.
“What donor would give a piece of art that might be sold to pay for administrative expenses?” Ms. Rose said. “This was meant to be a public art museum when it was built. It can be nothing but.”
In addition to demanding that the museum continue, the family wants the university to renew the contracts of its director, Michael Rush, and staff and to make plans for new exhibits. The current exhibit is scheduled to end in May.
Joseph Baerlein, a Brandeis spokesman, questioned the timing of the family’s statement, saying that no firm decisions would be made until the panel came up with a plan.
“It’s really exaggerating what’s happening right now and what is going to begin Thursday,” Mr. Baerlein said.
In a statement, the Brandeis provost, Marty Wyngaarden Krauss, said the museum “will remain open with a desired goal of being more fully integrated into the university’s core educational mission.”
“What precise role the museum will have will be informed by the recommendations of the Rose Committee to the Brandeis board,” Ms. Krauss said.
Brandeis initially decided to close the museum to help raise operating money for the university, whose endowment has dropped by 30 percent in the past year. The university, which faces up to a $79 million budget gap in the next five years, has raised tuition and fees, trimmed expenses and left positions vacant.
The museum was started in 1961 with a $1 million gift from Ed and Bertha Rose. The Rose family claims the museum has three funds set up to ensure its survival, but Brandeis disputes that.
The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office is reviewing whether selling the art would violate the terms of wills and donations.
Edward Dangel, a lawyer for the chairman of the museum’s board who has been contacted by members of the Rose family, said there had been little discussion with the university.
“Right now we’re not at a crisis point, but we’re coming close to a crisis point,” Mr. Dangel said. “If the university doesn’t relent and change its position in the next few months, the donors and the trustees will take action to test whether the intent of the donors has been honored here.”
The family spoke Monday before a symposium on art and museums in the financial crisis. Dozens of people, many wearing buttons saying “Save the Rose,” attended, and signs protesting the Rose’s closing were affixed to its front windows.
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