Albert C. Barnes - The Barnes Foundation in Recent Decades

The Barnes Foundation in Recent Decades

After a lengthy court battle in 1992, The Barnes Foundation received court approval to send 80 works on tour to generate funds for needed renovations to the foundation for systems updates and other work needed to preserve the artworks. The Foundation continued to struggle financially, hampered by poor management for a time, the isolation of its location, and local restrictions on parking, which reduced the number of visitors.

The Foundation became embroiled in further controversy in the 1990s due to a financial crisis, as it could not raise sufficient funds by admission and fundraising to protect its collection long term. In addition to the Foundation's operational restrictions, the residential neighborhood had long limited parking and public access in order to preserve neighborhood character.

The Foundation decided to relocate the collection to a new building to be constructed in Philadelphia on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, for enhanced public access. It opened in 2012. The Foundation's decision survived a court challenge and required resolving many legal issues. It was supported by the City of Philadelphia and funding from major regional foundations, as well as private fundraising. The setting of the collection has largely been duplicated in the new building, but its design allows more light and has received outstanding reviews since the opening of the new museum. The new museum is located near others, such as the Rodin Museum and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the latter establishment which Barnes detested.

The 2009 documentary film The Art of the Steal, part of national coverage of the issues, tells the story of Barnes' collection and the legal challenges to the Foundation's decision to relocate to Philadelphia.