Audit Reveals Improper Spending, Lost Art at Long Beach Museum of Art

LONG BEACH, Calif.—A city audit has found instances of improper spending and lost artworks at the Long Beach Museum of Art, the Los Angeles Times reports.  

The financial portion of the audit, completed this week, found several spending irregularities, including $1,588,000 improperly spent on day-to-day expenses. The money had been earmarked to help pay off over $3 million in city bonds by the September 2009 due date.

A second half of the audit, to be completed next month, is said to document missing works from the 3000-work collection, including two works by Russian artist Alexej Jawlensky, likely worth at least $200,000 to $300,000 apiece in today’s market. The works appear to have gone missing after a 2000 tour to Paris, according to museum executive director Ron Nelson.

The museum is owned by the city and managed by the Long Beach Museum of Art Foundation. The audit will be reviewed by the Long Beach City Council on Tuesday.