With the recent news that Brandeis University will be closing its Rose Art Museum, many are concerned about the future of Washington University’s Kemper Art Museum.

Brandeis University is closing its art museum in an effort to alleviate some of the stress placed on the liberal arts school by the economic crisis. There appears to be no evidence, however, that the University will follow a similar path.

“We will definitely not go the route Brandeis University is going,” said Sabine Eckmann, director and chief curator of Kemper Art Museum. “Something like that will not happen here. We would never sell art in order to help other areas.”

Eckmann said she believes that selling art and closing an art museum would be a last resort.

“All museums were hit by the economic crisis,” Eckmann said. “In general, museums are losing their status as an accredited institution if they sell art. There are a couple museums who already have had to lay off staff and cut exhibitions.”

Art Council (ArtC) President Jenny Murphy, a junior, said she believes that closing Kemper would be devastating for cultural education on campus.

“It sends a really clear message to all the students of how [the University] values what they’re doing as a commodity,” Murphy said. “I would be really disturbed if that happened here.”

Eckmann agrees that the effects of losing an art museum would be detrimental to an institution of higher education.

“I think it’s a horrible idea because this is something they will never be able to get back. It’s horrible to lose art and culture to solve a financial crisis,” Eckmann said. “If we get rid of art and culture in order to make some financial advances, it [would not] reflect well on us.”

Those in the artistic community here believe that Kemper is vital to the education of many on campus. All art students, for instance, are required to take 15 credits of art history courses at the University.

“When studying art in class, to be able to see it is such a valuable experience,” Murphy said.

In response to the discussion that has arisen from Brandeis University’s decision, Controversy N’ Coffee will be hosting a discussion on the role of arts in education on Monday, Feb. 16, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Danforth University Center, room 276.

Eckmann said that Kemper is financially secure despite the crisis.

“So far nothing has been cut. We have full support of the University administration for the museum. So far we’re doing okay,” Eckmann said. “But we are always funding our own exhibitions, in addition to the University’s funds through grants and sponsors like other museums.”

Although Eckmann acknowledged the uncertainty of the economy, she remains optimistic that the Kemper Art Museum will remain unaffected.
“We’re in a situation where we don’t really know what will happen, so we’ll just have to see what will happen in the next few years,” Eckmann said. “So far we’re good. We’re lucky.”