§ 971. Short title

This subchapter may be cited as “The Preservation of Historic Government Collections Act.”

§ 972. Curator of Government Collections

There is established within the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, the position of Curator of Government Collections. The Commissioner of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources shall consult with the Virgin Islands State Historic Preservation Office (“Historic Preservation Office”) to determine the qualifications of the individual before hiring. The Curator must at all […]

§ 973. Definitions

As used in this subchapter: “Decorative arts” means superior examples of furniture, silver, ceramics, glass, textiles, and miscellaneous domestic works that represent the changing styles and fashions preferred by the various first families during their occupancy of Government House. “Fine Arts” means superior examples of Virgin Islands paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, and watercolors that portray […]

§ 974. Committee for the Preservation of Government Collections

(a) There is established within the Office of the Governor the Committee for the Preservation of Government House Collections for the purpose of establishing, maintaining, supervising, preserving and conserving the collection and exhibition of fine and decorative arts, objects, and such relies, documents, paintings, furnishings, artifacts and other historical and related materials. (b) The Committee […]

§ 975. Curator

The Curator has the charge and custody of and is responsible for the works of art and inventory of items included in the Government House Collections.

§ 976. Executive Residence Account

The Committee shall establish an Executive Residence Account. Monies from the account must be used for the acquisitions, maintenance, storage, renovations and restorations of works of art. The Executive Residence Account is funded from the budget of the Department of Property and Procurement as appropriated by the Legislature, private donations and appropriations made by the […]

§ 977. Acquisition and removal procedures

The Committee shall develop and adopt standards for acquisitions and removal of works of art. Works of art may be acquired for collection by purchase, gift, bequest, or loan.

§ 978. Purchase at auction

When appropriate and extraordinary works come up for sale at auction, the Curator shall consult with the members of the entire Committee and a preservation or conservation professional, if necessary. The decision to acquire a work at auction must be unanimous between the chairperson, a Committee member and the Curator. If a unanimous decision cannot […]

§ 979. Acquisition of gifts and bequests

(a) Unless otherwise approved by the Committee, only unrestricted gifts may be accepted. (b) The gift must be accepted and acknowledged in accordance with procedures established by the Office of the Governor and the Committee. (c) Major donations, as defined by the Committee, merit a thank you letter from the First Lady, the Governor, or […]

§ 980. Collection, records, inventory and access

(a) The Committee shall maintain a complete and accurate record of all works of art. The record must include a completed acquisition catalogue form, containing a bill of sale or donation documents, correspondence, bibliographic references, photographs of related works, copies of appraisals, photographs, and any other information regarding the work. (b) At the beginning of […]

§ 981. Reproduction of works

It is unlawful to reproduce or copy works of art for personal use or commercial sale, except for educational materials and items such as prints, note cards and postcards produced by Government House, the Division of Libraries and Archives, and the Historic Preservation Office.

§ 982. Loans

(a) The decision to borrow or loan a work must be approved by a majority vote of the Committee, but if the Curator sits on the Committee as the chairperson, then the Archivist shall vote instead of the chairperson. If there is not unanimity in the decision, then the decision must be referred to the […]

§ 983. Care and preservation of the collection

(a) Any damage to a work of art in the Government House must be reported immediately to the Curator and State Historic Preservation Office on a form indicating the date the damage occurred, a description of the damage, and photographs of the areas of damage. No repairs to Government House works may be made without […]

§ 984. Government House textile policy

(a) The Curator shall create a textile policy, which at a minimum must include, but not limited to textiles, draperies and fabrics. (b) The Curator shall store textiles, including draperies and fabrics. (c) A written and photographic record must be compiled of all draperies in storage which were used in Government House. The record must […]

§ 985. Deaccession policy

(a) The Curator, the Commissioner of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, or the Commissioner’s designee: the Commissioner of Property and Procurement, or the Commissioner’s designee, and the Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer shall approve the disposal of works of art when the Committee has determined that they are no longer usable. (b) The […]