Two Museum Associations Offer Opposing Statements Surrounding National Portrait Gallery Controversy

The conversation is still going full-bore surrounding last week’s controversial move by the Smithsonian when they pulled a piece by David Wojnarowicz from a National Portrait Gallery exhibition following outcry from several groups who believed it was anti-Christian. Two large museum groups have entered the fray, the Association of Art Museum Directors, who issued a statement (pdf) chiding the Smithsonian for bowing to these outside pressures, and the American Association of Museums, who went the other direction and also issued