Alicia Weber, Chief, Fine Arts Program, General Services Administration, Cultural and Environmental Affairs Division
WPA artwork in Non-Federal Repositories from the Fine Arts Collection of the General Services Administration

1. Fine Arts of GSA
   
   • 1933-43; to recognize plight of artists to embellish federal buildings, post offices, and other public buildings
     
     
   • 1963 - GSA Art and Architecture Program over 180 GSA works in federal buildings (importance of creativity to people)
     
     
   • http://www.gsa.gov/pbs/pt/pts/cultural.htm
     
     
   • 1990- acquired funds for conservation of historic buildings and art and contemporary artworks.
     
     
   • 1993-Cultural Environmental Affairs to highlight works in Fine Arts division; exhibits are available for loan to area offices, museums, etc. (over 400 currently on loan)
     
     
   • Specific legislation: -Bulletin of March 26, 1934 for the WPA, "Legal Title to Works Produced under the Public Works of Art Project" states: "All works of art produced by the project which are moveable and not executed to occupy some particular location are the property of the Federal Government..."*
     
     -Procedure No. G-5, January 10, 1940, Section 32, "Art Projects - Allocation and Loan of Works of Art," states: "For the purposes of this section the word "allocated" shall mean the transfer of title."*
     
     -DPS Form 8, Request for Allocation states: "It is understood that custody of the work listed will not be transferred and that the work will be exhibited for public use as indicated. Institutions desiring to be released of any work shall communicate with the Director of the [WPA] - Art Program, Federal Works Agency, Washington DC." Page 4, Paragraph 1 of this Form also states: "If an agency or institution which has received a work of art on allocation or loan desires to be released from the responsibility of custody of the work, the representative of the agency or institution shall communicate with the Director of the WPA Art Program, Washington, DC."*
     
     
   • *WPA Artwork in Non-Federal Repositories, May 1996, U.S. General Services Administration
     
     
2. How we used survey to enhance GSA collection
   • 2 Case studies:
     University of Kentucky Art Museum, Lexington, KY and
     Newark Museum, Newark, New Jersey
     
     
   • Issues raised from case studies:
     1. ownership;
     2. communication;
     3. responsibility.
        
        
3. Facts from legal council on title of ownership:
   1. WPAs intent;
      
      
   2. GSA has restricted title of allocated loaned artworks;
      
      
   3. it is the responsibility of GSA to inform institutions of responsibility and rights (and distribute legal documents).
      
      Results of survey:
      
      1. MOA implemented for GSA artworks on loan;
      2. communication and partnerships started;
      3. exhibits of paintings, sculptures, and graphics acquired beginning in 1850
         Sample surveys
         Survey identified over 10,000 objects of which 8,000 have been inventoried.
         
         
4. Future directions & needs of GSA in non-federal institutions
   • Sale of WPA art is increasing; some may be legal but unclear.
   • Continued effort to inventory
   • MOU or Cooperative Agreement between institutions on ownership and title.
   • GSA IG confirmed GSA has ongoing responsibility
   • GSA does not intend to reclaim art from institutions
   • BRAC has generated additional art available for allocation.

Gave presentation describing the computer software used in the creation of a Fine Arts Database

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Frank Fryman, Area Archaeologist, Sacramento Area Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Indian Affairs Museum Property (Artwork & Artifacts) Housed in Bureau of Indian Affairs Offices/Art Representations from American Indian Culture Areas

• History of BIA Museum Property Program
• Majority of artwork as tribal gifts to BIA and some through acquisition.
• Most not accounted for as federal property as pointed out in IG audit of 1990.
• MPP increased communication between archaeologists and property managers.
• 1991 survey; curator hired (Marian Hansson); BIA property officers met in Arlington; Quality Improvement Team (10 people) finished 1995; action plan to complete inventory.
  

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Marian Hansson, Curator, Bureau of Indian Affairs

• BIA has 12 area offices holding over 21,000 museum items;
• major Indian tribes are separated into culture areas having similar characteristics and ecological zones: Northwest Coast, California, Southwest, Basin, Plateau, Plains, Southeast, Prairie, Lakes, Northeast, and Subarctic
• Culture and human relationships most important to Native Americans; artworks lends itself to cultural understanding of human relationships.
• Giving of gifts to honor someone is part of Plains Indian culture.
• 90% of BIA collection were gifts from tribal leaders, artists, and peoples.
• History of BIA:
  1817-McKinney given an Indian-made gift
  1824-first BIA art program under McKinney
  1833-McKinney published history
  1841-collection-DC art gallery
  1858-collection lost in fire except a few items - Smithsonian
  1933-John Collier renewed BIA collection
  1936 World's Fair Collection, art given to BIA
  1972-American Indian Movement occupation of DC office resulted in loss
  1990 IG Audit
  1992 Marian Hansson hired
  BIA 12 area offices, 109 agencies, 186 schools
  

(Slide show of BIA collections from Woodlands, Plains, Southwest, CA/Intermountain, and Northwest Coast Indians; Allen Houser paintings)

BIA now in partnerships with GSA, Univ. of CA, Corps of Engineers, and NPS

• Set up exhibits displaying BIA collections in Washington, DC and 4 field offices
• Goal to create nationwide awareness of program and insure accountability and management of collections in Washington, DC and other area offices
• Trained 290 BIA field staff about basic museum property, care, inventory, and survey methods
• Works closely with 12 area offices