Accessioning and Managing the Petersburg Area Art League Collection

Abstract

ACCESSIONING AND MANAGING THE PETERSBURG AREA ART LEAGUE COLLECTION By Janelle S. Wilson, M.A. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2010 Major Director: Dr. Margaret Lindauer, Associate Professor, Museum Studies Coordinator, Department of Art History Since the 1960s, the Petersburg Area Art League (PAAL) has obtained works of art for its permanent collection through purchases, private donations, and through the local art show, the Poplar Lawn Art Festival, later known as Artfest. Recently, however, the organization has decided to become a non-collecting institution in order to focus on its mission to promote the arts in Petersburg through gallery shows for local artists and educational programs. While PAAL’s staff members share a love of art and a dedication to the local community, they have not been trained in professional standards for handling museum collections as outlined by the American Association of Museums (AAM). Consequently, the PAAL collection had not been adequately documented or stored in a manner that protected the works from potential damage or degradation. This museum project was designed to help the Petersburg Area Art League meet AAM standards. During the summer of 2010, the collection of 150 artworks was accessioned; its storage facility was reorganized; a database was created; and a collections management policy that would ensure the continued care of the collection after the completion of this project was written and approved. This paper describes challenges encountered and resolved during the twomonth project and provides a reference for those who wish to take on similar projects in the