Ferndale Reacts to News of DIA Art Appraisal

News broke Monday that Christie’s auction house has been contracted to appraise a portion of the Detroit Institute of Arts' collection as part of the city's bankruptcy proceedings, prompting worry among the museum's supporters – including suburbanites who recently approved a millage to support the museum. 

Word of the pending appraisal drew more than 15 comments on the Ferndale Patch Facebook page Monday.

"... I love the DIA, used to go there on Fridays and draw," K Edward Joseph B commented. "However, were talking about people's pensions and benefits being taken away. I would much rather have people keep those than us continue being selfish."

Detroit emergency manager Kevyn Orr's office will pay New York-based Christie’s $200,000 to evaluate DIA artworks owned by the city, as opposed to others with donor restrictions; the appraisal is expected to be completed by mid-October, the Detroit Free Press reported Monday.

The city is grappling with an estimated $18 billion debt owed to bondholders, pensioners and others; the exact value of the DIA's artworks is unknown but is thought to be worth billions, the newspaper reports.

In August 2102, voters in Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties – including Ferndale – approved a tax of 0.2 mills for the next 10 years to help cover the museum's operating costs. In the meanwhile, the museum's fundraisers are working to build a sustainable endowment for the DIA.

But, the DIA released a statement Monday that threw into doubt the future of the millage and the institution itself:

"... Recent moves in Oakland and Macomb counties to invalidate the tri-county millage if art is sold virtually ensure that any forced sale of art would precipitate the rapid demise of the DIA. Removing $23 million in annual operating funds – nearly 75% of the museum’s operating budget – and violating the trust of donors and supporters would cripple the museum, putting an additional financial burden on our already struggling city. The DIA has long been doing business without City of Detroit operating support; any move that compromises its financial stability will endanger the museum and further challenge the City’s future."

• Kevin Cotter: Time to revoke the DIA millage.
• David Nicholson: Lots of people blame Orr and (Gov. Rick) Snyder but the fact"s are that the city is bankrupt. Even if bankruptcy was not declared very soon the city would go into default at which point a judge could have city assets including the art sold to satisfy creditors. Until the status of the collection is determined Orr is just doing his job. It won't be Orr or Snyder determining if the collection is sold. The collection is at risk due to decades of poor city government and a head in the sand attitude by the people in the Detroit area. All we can do us hope that somehow the collection will be protected.
  
• Kelly Cleaver: (Kevyn) Orr himself has said that having the art appraised is a standard procedure to determine the city's assets during bankruptcy and in no way means that any of the art is going to be sold. Granted, all those saying 'anything is possible' may have a point being that we're looking at decades of very severe mismanagement and a refusal to accept reality, even now for some. 
• Melissa Duckworth: It's reprehensible that they are paying $200,000 for the estimate if "they don't intend to sell the art"; either they are seriously planning to sell the art OR they are wasting $200k. Outrageous. I am glad to see the counties threatening to pull the milage and I hope they will stand firm in that threat if the city tries to sell ANY art.