Representatives of the Chicago Art Institute and Taschen Publishing confirmed Thursday that they are involved in negotiations to provide the publisher of illustrated art, architecture, design, and lifestyle books with a dedicated retail space within one of the Art Institute’s two museum shops. But contrary to what commissioned publishers’ rep Bruce Miller of Miller Trade, a Chicago-based rep group, wrote Thursday on his blog, they say details have not been worked out.
“We’re trying to work out an agreement,” Erin Hogan, Chicago Art Institute’s director of public affairs and communications, told PW. “We don’t even have the floor plans drawn up. It’s not at the level suggested by the blog.” Miller told PW that he stands by the information he posted on his blog, and declined further comment.
Taschen public relations manager Creed Poulson said that the arts organization and the publisher are “both trying to get creative because Taschen is the Art Institute’s number one account and they’re trying to do more,” but that nothing is official.
Miller wrote on his blog that the Art Institute will give 25%-30% of its book display space for Taschen’s exclusive use. “This is not a consignment agreement,” Miller wrote. The Art Institute operates the 3,000 square-foot Main Museum Shop, as well as the smaller Modern Wing Shop. Art reproductions, gifts, jewelry, and textiles are sold in the two shops, besides art-related titles.
Taschen, which is headquartered in Cologne, already operates four stand-alone stores in the U.S.--two in Los Angeles, and one each in Miami and New York City. It also operates seven stores in Europe.
