The $54K Question

We hear the University of Arkansas has tons of “art” that has been donated over the years. The donor, of course, gets a tax write-off for the donation. But the university often has no place to put the stuff, especially since the University of Arkansas Museum is closing.r

The UA found a good place for “Courage to Lead,” though. The 6-foot-tall, 8-foot-wide sculpture (including stone base) by Denny Haskew was donated by Fayetteville Alderman Don Marr and artist James Kunzelmann. It was placed between Old Main and Vol Walker Hall, just north of the Fulbright Peace Fountain and dedicated on Sept. 23.r

Valued at $54,000, the UA chalked that amount up as an in-kind donation to the Campaign for the 21st Century, which had $750,228,295 toward its goal of $900 million as of Sept. 18. But some people say the statue may be a liability to the university instead of an asset because of the money it will cost to maintain it.r

“I would think that something like that would need to be washed and waxed twice a year to be properly maintained,” said Paul Benson, associate conservator of objects for the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Mo. “That would probably cost about $1,000 a year. Getting an endowment for maintenance on a sculpture is critical anymore.”r

“There’s no separate maintenance endowment for that statue,” said Laura Jacobs, a UA spokesman.r

Jacobs said no special maintenence should be needed. She said the statue has increased in value because the artist recently won a national award.r