Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Monday, November 1, 1999

Release #435-99

Contact: Mayor's Press Office (212) 788-2958


STATEMENT REGARDING DECISION ON THE BROOKLYN INSTITUTE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES V. CITY OF NEW YORK

The City is disappointed that the District Court apparently ruled that once the public starts funding a museum, it must continue to do so no matter how inappropriately that money is used. The City continues to believe that an exhibit that includes works that desecrate the religious beliefs of a substantial portion of the community is a violation of the purposes of the Brooklyn Museum, as embodied in its charter and contractual agreements with the City. In its highly unorthodox relationship with Charles Saatchi and Christie's, the Museum strayed from its mission by placing commercial gain and self-promotion over its statutory obligation to display art suitable for exhibition in a publicly owned museum with a special responsibility to the City's schoolchildren. The inappropriate use of taxpayer monies to enhance private financial interests is unacceptable.

The City will appeal this ruling. Also, since today's action is only a preliminary injunction, the City will pursue discovery vigorously as the case proceeds on the relationship between the officers and trustees of the Museum, Saatchi, Christie's, Bowie and others.

Following the revelations in yesterday's New York Times of the financial dealings involved in the "Sensation" exhibit, the City wrote to the Court urging that the record be opened so that further relevant information could be considered before the Court ruled. The Court rejected our request and immediately thereafter issued its opinion. The City's letter to the Court is attached.


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