Art
Dream Jobs in the World of Culture and What You Get for Doing Them
The hours are punishing and the politics — internal and external — can be demanding. But executives at some of America’s most influential arts organizations are compensated handsomely.
Some come with free luxury housing, or first-class travel, or an allowance for social clubs, as long as business is involved. Many come with deferred compensation and other benefits that can push annual earnings past the $1 million mark. The challenges nonprofit arts organizations have been facing, particularly since the pandemic, have made the job of running one increasingly complex. Those difficulties have also drawn more scrutiny to pay and expenditures, and many arts executives took pay cuts during the pandemic. So what do the leaders of some of the most prominent arts institutions in the nation make?
Here’s a look at their pay and benefits, as drawn from recent tax filings.
Museum of Modern Art
Director’s compensation: $2 million
Reported perks included: The director received health club dues and a rent-free luxury apartment in the tower above the museum.
Institution’s total spending: $248 million
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Director-CEO’s compensation: $1.9 million
Reported perks included: The director-CEO received a housing allowance.
Institution’s total spending: $98 million
Metropolitan Opera
General Manager’s compensation: $1.8 million
Reported perks included: The general manager received a car and driver, a life insurance policy and some first-class travel if business related.
Institution’s total spending: $315 million
New York Philharmonic
President-CEO’s compensation: $1.6 million
Institution’s total spending: $74 million
Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation
Director’s compensation: $1.6 million
Institution’s total spending: $62 million
American Museum of Natural History
President’s compensation: $1.6 million
Reported perks included: The president received free housing in a luxury apartment owned by the museum and the payment of life insurance premiums. (The figures date from the museum’s 2021 return because the 2022 filing, which showed its departing president, Ellen Futter, received an $11.9 million package, was anomalous in that the package included $10.7 million in deferred retirement income earned over 28 years.)
Institution’s total spending: $189 million
Carnegie Hall
Executive-Artistic Director’s compensation: $1.6 million
Reported perks included: The artistic director was provided a rent-free apartment for 10 months of the year and took a first-class trip to a business event with a companion.
Institution’s total spending: $101 million
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Director’s compensation: $1.5 million
Reported perks included: The director received a housing allowance and dues for a social club used for business purposes.
Institution’s total spending: $124 million
Lincoln Center
President-CEO’s compensation: $1.5 million
Institution’s total spending: $130 million
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Director’s compensation: $1.4 million
Reported perks included: The director received a housing allowance.
Institution’s total spending: $419 million
The Public Theater
Artistic Director’s compensation: $1.1 million
Reported perks included: The artistic director received payments toward life insurance coverage and upgraded seating is allowed on overnight business flights that take six hours or longer.
Institution’s total spending: $63 million
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Director’s compensation: $1.1 million
Reported perks included: The director received a housing allowance of $50,000, a small companion travel expense and $14,000 in unspecified attorney’s fees.
Institution’s total spending: $134 million
Perelman Performing Arts Center at New York’s World Trade Center
Artistic Director’s compensation: $1.1 million
Reported perks included: The artistic director received a housing allowance.
Institution’s total spending: $27 million
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Director’s compensation: $1.1 million
Institution’s total spending: $85 million
J. Paul Getty Museum
Director’s compensation: $1.1 million
Institution’s total spending: $164 million
Whitney Museum of American Art
Director’s compensation: $1 million
Reported perks included: The director received a housing allowance.
Institution’s total spending: $77 million
Art Institute of Chicago
Museum President’s compensation: $972,000
Reported perks included: For the museum president, some business-related, first-class travel is allowed and club fees are reimbursed to the extent they are used for museum business.
Institution’s total spending: $300 million
The Frick Collection
Director-CEO’s compensation: $883,000
Reported perks included: The director received a housing allowance and travel expenses for his spouse are reimbursed on business trips.
Institution’s total spending: $24 million
Brooklyn Museum
Director’s compensation: $816,000
Institution’s total spending: $55 million
Smithsonian Institution
Secretary’s compensation: $810,000
Institution’s total spending: $1.5 billion
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Director-CEO’s compensation: $796,000
Institution’s total spending: $76 million
Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles
Director’s compensation: $780, 000
Reported perks included: The director received a housing allowance and some first-class travel was allowed when business related.
Institution’s total spending: $21 million
Field Museum of Natural History
President-CEO’s compensation: $778,000
Reported perks included: The president-CEO received payments toward dues for a social club used for museum business and travel benefits for a spouse who is also a museum volunteer.
Institution’s total spending: $73 million
The Shed
Artistic Director-CEO’s compensation: $687,000
Reported perks included: The artistic director received a housing allowance.
Institution’s total spending: $38 million
Dallas Museum of Art
Executive Director’s compensation: $661,000
Reported perks included: The executive director received a housing allowance.
Institution’s total spending: $31 million
Park Avenue Armory
President-Director’s compensation: $624,000
Institution’s total spending: $28 million
Denver Art Museum
Director’s compensation: $599,000
Reported perks included: The director received compensation toward a health club membership.
Institution’s total spending: $50 million
Brooklyn Academy of Music
Artistic Director’s compensation: $567,000
Institution’s total spending: $45 million
Pérez Art Museum Miami
Museum Director’s compensation: $548,000
Institution’s total spending: $18 million
Methodology: This list tracks the total compensation earned by top executives at many of America’s largest cultural organizations as reported on their last publicly available federal tax returns. For most of the organizations, the returns cover the fiscal year ending in June 2022, but a few cover 12-month periods that were earlier or later. In several cases, the listed compensation is for an executive who has since left the institution. In all cases, the figures have been rounded. Organizations that have no perks listed did not report any on their tax return.
The federal tax return records total compensation as a sum of all earnings, including salary, any bonuses, housing allowances or other benefits and any deferred or retirement compensation.
For the Perelman Center, the total expenses were taken from its 2023 operating budget because it had yet to begin full operations during the time covered by its last federal tax return. The compensation figure reflects the artistic director’s earnings from last year (2022). For the Getty Museum, the total expense figure is taken from the annual financial statement of the J. Paul Getty Trust, its parent organization. The Brooklyn Museum said its compensation package had been inflated by the inclusion of back pay that had been cut during the pandemic.
Art
Calvin Lucyshyn: Vancouver Island Art Dealer Faces Fraud Charges After Police Seize Millions in Artwork
In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Vancouver Island art community, a local art dealer has been charged with one count of fraud over $5,000. Calvin Lucyshyn, the former operator of the now-closed Winchester Galleries in Oak Bay, faces the charge after police seized hundreds of artworks, valued in the tens of millions of dollars, from various storage sites in the Greater Victoria area.
Alleged Fraud Scheme
Police allege that Lucyshyn had been taking valuable art from members of the public under the guise of appraising or consigning the pieces for sale, only to cut off all communication with the owners. This investigation began in April 2022, when police received a complaint from an individual who had provided four paintings to Lucyshyn, including three works by renowned British Columbia artist Emily Carr, and had not received any updates on their sale.
Further investigation by the Saanich Police Department revealed that this was not an isolated incident. Detectives found other alleged victims who had similar experiences with Winchester Galleries, leading police to execute search warrants at three separate storage locations across Greater Victoria.
Massive Seizure of Artworks
In what has become one of the largest art fraud investigations in recent Canadian history, authorities seized approximately 1,100 pieces of art, including more than 600 pieces from a storage site in Saanich, over 300 in Langford, and more than 100 in Oak Bay. Some of the more valuable pieces, according to police, were estimated to be worth $85,000 each.
Lucyshyn was arrested on April 21, 2022, but was later released from custody. In May 2024, a fraud charge was formally laid against him.
Artwork Returned, but Some Remain Unclaimed
In a statement released on Monday, the Saanich Police Department confirmed that 1,050 of the seized artworks have been returned to their rightful owners. However, several pieces remain unclaimed, and police continue their efforts to track down the owners of these works.
Court Proceedings Ongoing
The criminal charge against Lucyshyn has not yet been tested in court, and he has publicly stated his intention to defend himself against any pending allegations. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 10, 2024.
Impact on the Local Art Community
The news of Lucyshyn’s alleged fraud has deeply affected Vancouver Island’s art community, particularly collectors, galleries, and artists who may have been impacted by the gallery’s operations. With high-value pieces from artists like Emily Carr involved, the case underscores the vulnerabilities that can exist in art transactions.
For many art collectors, the investigation has raised concerns about the potential for fraud in the art world, particularly when it comes to dealing with private galleries and dealers. The seizure of such a vast collection of artworks has also led to questions about the management and oversight of valuable art pieces, as well as the importance of transparency and trust in the industry.
As the case continues to unfold in court, it will likely serve as a cautionary tale for collectors and galleries alike, highlighting the need for due diligence in the sale and appraisal of high-value artworks.
While much of the seized artwork has been returned, the full scale of the alleged fraud is still being unraveled. Lucyshyn’s upcoming court appearances will be closely watched, not only by the legal community but also by the wider art world, as it navigates the fallout from one of Canada’s most significant art fraud cases in recent memory.
Art collectors and individuals who believe they may have been affected by this case are encouraged to contact the Saanich Police Department to inquire about any unclaimed pieces. Additionally, the case serves as a reminder for anyone involved in high-value art transactions to work with reputable dealers and to keep thorough documentation of all transactions.
As with any investment, whether in art or other ventures, it is crucial to be cautious and informed. Art fraud can devastate personal collections and finances, but by taking steps to verify authenticity, provenance, and the reputation of dealers, collectors can help safeguard their valuable pieces.
Art
Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone – BBC.com
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Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone BBC.com
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Art
Somerset House Fire: Courtauld Gallery Reopens, Rest of Landmark Closed
The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”
On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”
The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.
Blaze in the West Wing
The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.
About Somerset House
Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.
Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.
Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.
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