The strategy for collecting art among wealthy patrons had always been straightforward, even if it felt like the golden rule. The collection would consist of great pieces collected over a lifetime and then given away to an institution based in New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles. The name of the benefactor was immortalised on the building in the form of marble, and new wings opened up, but the national art treasure remained firmly ensconced within that one square mile of property.
But a closed-loop system generates a huge geographical wall for millions of families who live beyond these coastal centres. If high-calibre arts can only be accessed through expensive vacation trips and prestigious urban ZIP codes, then cultural engagement becomes a privilege of proximity.
