direct costs – American Alliance of Museums

A Modest Proposal for Museum Collections: Apply the principle of direct costs for deaccessioning

By John Wetenhall

Some years ago, shortly before I assumed the directorship of the Ringling Museum of Art—the state art museum of Florida—the leader of the Florida Legislature declared, “I love Rubens.” The Ringling was widely known for its rare and …

Latest Stories from AAM

Accessibility by Design: Empowering Staff for Human-Centered Change

On-Demand Programs

What does it mean to build a truly human-centered museum? This webinar supports staff at …

October Advocacy Alert: Smithsonian Protection Bill, Member Week Advocacy Programming, and more

Advocacy Alert – October 2, 2026 In this Alliance Advocacy Alert: Smithsonian Protection …

Inclusive Content in Uncertain Times: A 2026 Annual Survey of Museum-Goers Data Story

This visual Data Story is based on findings from the 2026 Annual Survey of Museum-Goers, …

AAM Members get exclusive access to premium digital content including:

Featured articles from Museum magazine
Access to more than 1,500 resource listings from the Resource Center
Tools, reports, and templates for equipping your work in museums

Your current membership level does not allow you to access this content.

Upgrade Your Membership

Subscribe to our Newsletter!

Our weekly newsletter is packed with stories, resources, and information for museum people. Once you've completed the form below, confirm your subscription in the email sent to you.

If you are a current AAM member, please sign-up using the email address associated with your account.

Are you a museum professional? Yes No

Are you a current AAM member? Yes No

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription, and please add communications@aam-us.org to your safe sender list.