Culture Heist: Art versus Money
Judith White
Brandl & Schlesinger
Promoting the value of art, institutions, art workers and public programs in our lives is admirable. And yet, the path to get there takes a back-seat in this exposé on the politics, salaries and net-wealth of Australians contributing to the Art Gallery of New South Wales as staff and volunteers with comparisons to the spending habits of largely American institutions. While detailed, the account dilutes a more conciliatory proposition that participation, from guide, curator, board or advisor within an art gallery is at its best when corporate expertise is one of many voices. At times off-key, ‘Culture Heist’ still provokes necessary conversation about transparency and support for our institutions.
