U.S. Government Investigating 11 Private Art Museums

What is every lawyer’s dream? Having to argue what “public” and “benefit” mean.

According to the NY Times and Hyperallergic,

The Senate Finance Committee is scrutinizing nearly a dozen private museums opened by individual collectors, questioning whether the tax-exempt status they enjoy provides sufficient public benefit to justify what amounts to a government subsidy.

Donn Zaretsky wonders what the hoopla is given that art will, at some point down the line, benefit the public. But, who’s the public, the hot-dog street vendor or the art history grad student ? The tailgaters at Alabama football games or upper east side ladies-in-waiting? Can’t wait to read the eleven responses.

Tags: 501(c)(3), Art Law, broad museum, investigations, private foundations, private museums, public benefit, rubell museum, tax-exempt, taxes