New Guidelines on Loans of Antiquities and Ancient Art - Enhanced Transparency and Due Diligence in Loans Process Furthers Art Museums’ Public Mission

New York, NY – February 27, 2006 – As part of its ongoing commitment to provide its member museums with guidance on professional standards and best practice, the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) today published its “Report of the AAMD Subcommittee on Incoming Loans of Archaeological Material and Ancient Art,” which was endorsed at its recent Midwinter Meeting in West Palm Beach, Florida.

This report supplements that of the AAMD Task Force on the Acquisition of Archaeological Materials and Ancient Art, which published its report in June 2004. Both sets of guidelines are framed in the context of concern among art museums related to the problem of illicit excavation of archaeological sites and the associated destruction of monuments, artifacts and archaeological contexts. They also respond to continuing developments in U.S. and international law relating to cultural property that have importants implications for loans and other museum activities. A reexamination of U.S. art museums' acquisition, borrowing/lending and collections policies is, and will continue to be, a priority of AAMD. AAMD also announced that it will establish advisory groups from among AAMD directors with experience in these areas to aid other member museums. [...]