Publishers and museums

Apollo, July, 2005 by Tom Morgan

The celebration of the glory days of art-book publishing, at the heart of John Nicoll's impassioned piece ('Why art publishing is in crisis', APOLLO, May 2005), is wonderful. However, the cause of the crisis in art-book publishing today actually lies in its past success. This genteel and civilised endeavour turned up some embarrassingly profitable activity, attracting those whose main interest is not primarily in its civilised aspects but rather in its profitable ones. Publishing has become aggressively competitive and financially driven.

Museums and galleries are, per force, adapting to market changes. We are also constantly balancing public service obligations with the need to improve self-reliance. At the National Portrait Gallery we are able to support scholarship and scholarly publishing in a variety of ways, because we distinguish carefully between this and commercial activity. Making this distinction, when even the most profitable of publishers plead poverty and academic values, is increasingly hard work. There is a high demand for images from museums and galleries. The costs in supplying this demand need to be covered, and it seems sensible to do so by charging those who are using these resources in publishing and commercial activities. Far from being 'rapacious and unwarranted' fees, our prices closely reflect the cost of administering our activities. It is not acceptable to argue that public-service institutions should absorb huge costs, to allow art book publishers to make larger profits.

If readers are interested in the facts in this area, may I suggest that they take a look at the work of the Museums Copyright Group at http://www.museumscopyright.org.uk/bridge.htm, as well as Simon Tanner's excellent studies 'Exploring Charging Models for Digital Cultural Heritage' http://heds.herts.ac.uk/mellon/title.html and 'Reproduction charging models & rights policy for digital images in American art museums' http://www.kcl.ac.uWhumanities/cch/kdcs/USart.htm

Tom Morgan, Head of Rights and Reproductions

National Portrait Gallery, London