Search 'Oberlin, Ohio' on google images and you'll get a bunch of quaint old ye American houses, a very country main street and the Oberlin College in town. Not a place you'd look for ground ultra progressive ideas on sharing the cultural wealth. Cue the Art Rental Program brought in by the Art Librarian, Ellen Johnson in 1940 for the College's Allen Memorial Art Museum. Students at the College can borrow a piece of selected art for $5 a semester. Now I know what you're thinking now. How good could 'selected' pieces be. Think Picasso. Cezanne, Goya, Dali, Lichtenstein to name a few from the all-star band. Currently, the Rental program encompasses 400+ pieces and has yet to have a piece catastrophically damaged since it's commencement. May we reinstate these pieces are being rented to students, for $5, for a semester. (Insert shock emoji) Respect.
Goes to show that when you take down the barriers to supposed high-class, expensive, cultural artworks, nothing really happens except a greater acceptance and appreciation for that art. We believe artwork of great significance belongs to the people (especially when there is tax payer dollars involved) and although not all pieces can be cared for in a regular persons home, the majority can. Share the love.
