National Palace Museum defends special access for arts auctioneer (2013/05/06)
The National Palace Museum is under fire for allowing an arts auctioneer access to its storerooms. In its defense, the museum says that the auctioneer is a special assistant to a convener of the museum’s advisory committee and was in the convener’s presence during the visit.
The heavily guarded storeroom of the National Palace Museum has red doors that lock securely with a blue piece of paper sealing the doors. For added protection, cameras offer a 360-degree view. Despite these strict security measures, there is speculation that an assortment of people has privileged access to enter.
PFP Legislator Liu Wen-hsiung says that on April 28 of last year, Quanta Chairman Barry Lam and members of a French arts construction team came to examine a storeroom. Lam, who is a deputy director of the museum and convener of its advisory committee, also let his friend Clara Kuo join the tour. Kuo is an arts auctioneer.
Liu says that Kuo does not represent academic institutions and is not a scholar with research needs. Therefore, the lawmaker feels she does not meet access requirements.
Liu Wen-hsiung PFP Legislator The only (lawmakers) who have ever gone into the storerooms are conveners of the advisory committee. What kind of pressure are the director and two deputy directors under that they feel they can let certain people enter the storerooms?
The National Palace Museum defended Kuo’s visit.
Ho Chuan-hsin NPM Deputy Director We don’t grant special access to our storerooms. Ms. Kuo, as far as I know, is the special assistant to Barry Lam, who is convener of the advisory committee of the National Palace Museum. She accompanied him on the visit.
The National Palace Museum says important guests who wish to visit the storerooms must receive permission from the museum director.
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