Symposium at the Rose Art Museum, next Monday

Rose Family Members To Make First Public Statement concerning the status of the Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University; Family To Deliver Statement to Brandeis

Scholars Come Together at Rose Art Museum to hold Symposium:
“Preserving Trust: Art and the Art Museum amidst Financial Crisis”
This event is free and open to the public
Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University Campus
415 South Street, Waltham, Massachusetts

Monday, March 16, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.
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More than 50 members of the Rose family have come together to condemn the actions of the current Brandeis administration in closing the Edward and Bertha C. Rose Art Museum and selling the art works in its renowned collection. A statement will be read at this event. A copy of the statement will be delivered to the office of the President of Brandeis University on Monday, March 16, 2009.

Copies of the statement will be available to the media at the event on Monday as well as via electronic distribution.
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ABOUT THE SYMPOSIUM:
Preserving Trust: Art and the Art Museum amidst Financial Crisis
Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University Campus
415 South Street, Waltham, Massachusetts

Monday, March 16 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

An interdisciplinary symposium. Panelists include literary scholar Stephen Greenblatt, poet Robert Pinsky, and author Claire Messud. Moderator: Mark Auslander (Anthropology, Cultural Production, Brandeis University)

This symposium is prompted by the global controversy over the recently proposed closing of Brandeis University's Rose Art Museum and the selling of some or all of its permanent collection of modern and contemporary art, in order to meet general university financial needs. At a time of financial crisis, what is the utility of art and of museums, in universities and in other contexts? Is art the most dispensable and disposable of assets when times are tough? Conversely, might art and museums be understood as especially valuable at moments of economic and social distress, helping to remind a society of its core values, exposing citizens to cultural difference, and providing vital spaces for community-building and democratic debate?Panelists will give particular attention to the dynamics of "trust" and cultural heritage in the academy and the wider world. To what extent do institutions of higher education hold art and scientific collections as a "sacred trust" for the public? In what respects can and should public museums help build trust and community across the often fractious lines of the body politic? What new models of the museum and its position within universities and the wider social field should be explored in the 21st century?

Note: The proceedings will be streamed live on the Cultural Production ustream channel, and also posted on YouTube: http://www.brandeis.edu/programs/culturalproduction/transformations/YouTube.html