Vote Against Art Museum Merger Fails
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The latest effort to torpedo the Newport Harbor-Laguna Art Museum merger has failed, but merger opponents say the fight still isn’t over.
A referendum to reverse the merger was defeated narrowly 823 to 796 in a vote by the general membership of the consolidated Orange County Museum of Art, according to Charles D. Martin, OCMA president.
Martin said Wednesday that trustees were surprised by the close vote but noted that the opponents also failed in their effort to replace board members with candidates of their own.
Of 18 anti-merger proposals submitted to the general membership, four were approved. But they are technical and will not affect the merger or any significant operations, Martin said.
Still, another resolution may prompt trustees to cancel the sale of the rest of the museum’s Paul Outerbridge photography collection, which has been consigned to auction in October. One-third of the collection was sold in April.
“The board could conclude that it’s appropriate to pay damages and try to back out” of its contract with the auction house, Martin said.
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