501-918-3025
calsfoundation@cals.org
calsfoundation@cals.org
Art Collection Use, Development, and Management
The Central Arkansas Library System (CALS), especially but not exclusively through its Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, acquires, preserves, and exhibits works of art in its permanent collection and exhibits pieces on loan from various individuals and organizations. CALS also owns a number of pieces of public art displayed at various properties in the library system. All of these works and the programs they make possible support CALS’s mission to provide resources and experiences that serve the educational, professional, and recreational needs of its constituents, specifically by providing opportunities for the study, practice, and enjoyment of the arts. Especially but not exclusively, the CALS art program celebrates the work of Arkansas artists and of artists from other places who have depicted or explored Arkansas-related themes.
Programs Supported by the Collection
- Exhibitions
The Butler Center, sometimes in conjunction with other CALS departments and branches, mounts exhibitions of art, both from the CALS permanent collection and on loan from outside collectors and organizations. Exhibitions featuring and interpreting materials from the CALS collection are intended to demonstrate the depth and breadth of the collection and, as is true of all exhibitions on CALS properties, so stimulate public discussion about the role of art in community. Consideration will be given to requests to loan materials and facsimiles from the CALS collection for exhibition at other institutions when the policies and facilities of those institutions meet acceptable standards and proper credit is given to the Central Arkansas Library System.
- Research
The collection exists to be of use and enjoyment to CALS’s many patrons. Materials collected shall be made available for examination and research, at CALS properties, when the security of the pieces can be guaranteed. Persons wishing to examine art should get in touch with the Art Administrator at least three business days in advance to ensure availability. - Preservation
Crucial to the permanence of the collection is the ability to preserve materials. Collections are stored in accordance with established standards and procedures, in a secure, climate-controlled environment, and steps will be taken to ensure the security of pieces brought our for examination by researchers and for display. - Outreach
Art program staff members and volunteers work to further the use and development of the collections through an ongoing series of exhibitions, publications, tours, and web-based resources. Periodically, staff members will give presentations to interested parties and use other methods to showcase the collection and make it as accessible as possible to the public.
Focus of the Permanent Collection
The primary focus of the CALS Permanent Collection is the collection, exhibition, interpretation, and preservation of works by Arkansas artists or artworks related to Arkansas created by persons from elsewhere. However, the collection and its uses may be augmented by the addition of work unrelated to Arkansas.
- Media
The CALS permanent collection consists of a variety of media, especially two-dimensional pieces–most especially paintings, drawings, prints, and photographs–and small three-dimensional pieces such as pottery and other craft works. Large sculpture pieces are not a collecting priority for CALS because of storage and maintenance difficulties. Usually, large pieces of sculpture will be placed outside CALS buildings.
- Exclusions
CALS generally does not accept or acquire pieces for which it cannot care properly because of their format, condition, or quantity. It will only be able to accept materials when the donor or seller has clear authority to give or sell the pieces to CALS. See below for further considerations regarding gifts of art.
Areas for Further Development
CALS and the Butler Center seek to enhance and augment the system’s holdings by expanding on strengths and fulling gaps in the permanent collection. The following considerations guide decisions about further development of the collection:
- How well prospective additions to the collection support the mission and goals of CALS and of the art program
- Ways new materials might complement or fill gaps in existing holdings
- The impact of new materials on financial and staff resources
Collecting Methods and Related Procedures
- Gifts
Donations of art work are essential to building the permanent collection and fulfilling the mission of the CALS art program. Prospective donations of art, as well as bequests or other planned gifts, will be evaluated by the CALS Art Administrator and on occasion by members of a CALS Art Advisory Committee, before they are accepted. This evaluation will pay special attention to how well the art work fits within CALS’s stated collection guidelines, the condition of the artwork and whether it will require extraordinary or costly measures to maintain its basic integrity, and CALS’s financial ability to protect and display the work over an extended period according to best professional practices. The Art Advisory Committee is an ad-hoc group assembled when needed by CALS adminstrators, consisting of three to five people including at least one CALS staff member and individuals drawn from a pool of volunteers willing to serve on a short-term basis, with a majority membership of non-CALS employees. Acceptance of donations of art must include a legal transfer of title, a deed of gift, or some other official document of transmittal. The acceptance of all gifts and bequests shall be without restriction or guarantees regarding exhibition or placement of the donated piece(s). Appraisals of the monetary value of donated artwork are the responsibility of the donor. No gifts of pieces of art with potentially dangerous features–such as sharp, moving parts–will be accepted. Also, no gifts of art requiring special care or extensive conservation will be accepted unless accompanied by appropriate funds to cover anticipated expenses. - Purchase
CALS will purchase works of art that add significance, variety, and quality to the permanent collection. - Commission
CALS may commission the creation of works of art that enhance the permanent collection and/or contribute to community awareness and enjoyment through the placement of pieces in public viewing areas. - Loans
CALS will accept loans of pieces for exhibition and will loan pieces to other organizations when proper storage and security provisions can be guaranteed. All pieces loaned from CALS shall be designated as “On Loan from the CALS Art Collection.” - Deaccessioning
Because of the costs of storage and maintenance or other factors, CALS may move from time to time to deaccession some items, subject to reasonable attempts to notify donors or their heirs, who will have thirty days to retrieve the items, after which CALS will be free to give the items away or otherwise dispose of them. In certain cases, pieces will be offered to other organizations that have permanent collecting interests or sold to organizations or private individuals with the resulting funds deposited back into the budget of the art program.
