The Art of Acquiring  

1. Collections Plan  

Curators at the Indianapolis Museum of Art have a collecting plan that identifies strengths and gaps in the collection and determines acquisition goals. The Collections Plan is updated every five years.  

2. Find “The One” 

Curators are always on the lookout for new acquisitions and stay up-to-date on art auctions, keep in contact with art dealers, and build relationships with collectors. Sometimes curators will work for years with a dealer or collector to locate and acquire an artwork. 

3. Pitch Session  

The curator writes and presents a proposal to the curatorial department and museum director, who vote on whether to move forward with the acquisition process. This process is somewhat unique to the IMA; many museums’ curators don’t have the opportunity to vote on each acquisition. 

4. Budgets Consulted & Registration Finalizes Paperwork 

Curators have an understanding and general sense of what’s in the acquisitions endowment, so it is expected that any piece that is pitched in a pitch session is within budget. Otherwise, a fundraising effort will begin with donors who support the specific collecting area.  

5. Arrange Shipping  

Shipping artwork is an art in its own right. Custom crates are built, and pieces are wrapped securely so as not to be damaged in transit. Often, pieces are escorted by an IMA staff member called a courier. Fun fact; the next step, the Art Committee Vote, can’t happen until the piece is physically at Newfields.  

6. Art Committee Votes 

The Art Committee votes on if the acquisition should move forward or not.  

7. Conservation Work (as needed) 

If the Art Committee agrees to acquire the piece, conservation work will begin if necessary.  

8. On View (or In Storage) 

At last! Curators are eager to get the piece on view in the permanent gallery spaces or in an exhibition. Guests can find recent acquisitions and where to see them on the IMA’s Collections Portal.  

Stay tuned for art highlights on pieces the Indianapolis Museum of Art acquired last year, and when and where you can expect to see them in the near future!  

EXHIBITION CREDITS:

Installation view of Embodied: Human Figures in Art in the IMA Galleries.

Magdalene Odundo (English, b. Kenya, 1950), abstract vessel (black), 1991, ceramic 17 × 11 × 11 in. Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields, Anonymous Art Fund of Louisa A. Vonnegut Peirce, 1998.185 © Magdalene Odundo.

Alison Saar (American, b. 1956), Nappy Head Blues, 1997, wood, paint, found objects, 19-1/2 × 13-1/4 × 12-1/4 in. Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields, Gift of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Indianapolis Chapter, 1999.41 © Alison Saar. Courtesy of L.A. Louver, Venice, CA.

Edward August Bell (American, 1862–1953), The Statuette, 1912, oil on board, 18 × 12 in. Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Mallinson, 2004.88 © Edward August Bell.