Permanent Collection

This provocative tale continues playwright Thomas Gibbon’s examination of racial politics in America. The art museum of an eccentric millionaire has flourished for years, presenting artworks by Cezanne, Renoir, and Matisse. But when the museum’s board appoints a successful African-American businessman as director, he discovers a wealth of African art treasures in the museum’s storage and a battle of ideologies is set in motion. Inspired by the true controversies surrounding Philadelphia’s Barnes Foundation, this play explores opposing views of art, race, and culture, investigating an issue that is far from black and white.