In August, 2007, the International Council of Museums (ICOM), representing museum professionals, globally defined a museum as “a non-profit, permanent institution in the service of society and its development, open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits … for the purpose of education and enjoyment.” Private museums, differing from public museums, are based on a single collector’s vision, having no one to answer to but the owners. However, if they are non-profit, in the United States, their tax status requires adherence to requirements focusing, as ICOM defines museums, on educational value and public access. All non-profit private museums enjoy complete curatorial freedom for their owners, and for those they appoint or who succeed them, while reaping the benefits of non-profit tax status. Two hundred and thirty-six private art museums … [Read more...] about When Private Museums go Public: Visiting Glenstone & the Barnes Collection