Museums across the globe have had to close due to the spread of COVID-19. But many have managed to adjust their programming and offerings to stay in touch with the public. And MoMa is now offering a rare opportunity for art fans. The famous New York institution announced they would be digging into their publishing archives and selling some of their rarest books online.
"Attention bibliophiles! This special selection of rare MoMA Publications has been stored in our archives for decades and, if you act fast, are available in extremely limited quantities," they wrote on Instagram. "Many of these books—focused on the fields of art, photography, architecture, and more—are in excellent condition and renowned for their high production values."
Texts include William Eggleston's Guide, which is impossible to find and one of the most important art books of the 20th century. There's also Jan Groover, Rinascente Compasso d'Oro, and Joseph Cornell. As of now, there are 119 books with prices ranging from just $25 to $2,500 for the Eggleston. All of them are available through the rare books section on the Design Store's website.
This is just the latest offering from MoMA, while the world is on lockdown. They also offered free online art classes as a way to stay connected and made some of its contemporary art available for viewing online. Of course, this is in addition to over 100 museums, libraries, and galleries offering free, printable coloring sheets. Plus, institutions like the Louvre and the British Museum in London are hosting virtual tours of their famous exhibits.
"We'll be updating and adding to digital content during the period we're closed to allow visitors to stay in touch with the Museum," Hartwig Fischer, director of the British Museum, shared in a statement. "We'll share our collections, research, and programs in new ways that will not require a trip to the Museum."
