Alternative Collecting Policies and Practices in U.S. Contemporary Art Institutions

Contemporary art institutions are faced with theoretical and practical challenges to collecting stemming from a commitment to experimental art and living artists, testing standard museum values. This research explores issues related to collecting contemporary art and determines if museums have developed alternative models in response to these challenges. Apart from isolated experiments in collaboration, commissioning, and artist participation, contemporary art institutions have either eschewed collecting altogether or have modeled their collecting policies on the modern museum model.