With a psychological metaphor, Mike Scutari explains the trends in fundraising for art museums: raise money for a sexy new wing to cover the cost for the less attractive upkeep of existing buildings.

"According to Wikipedia, cognitive dissonance is the 'mental stress or discomfort experienced by an individual who... is confronted by new information that conflicts with existing beliefs, ideas, or values.' As far as the art world is concerned, this conflict derives from what we call the 'Bilbao Effect.' 

"It's the idea that an incredibly splashy and expensive museum will make the museum itself a destination for tourists and art-lovers alike. It's all the rage in the museum world nowadays. In New York City alone, a dozen or so museums have committed to close to $3.5 billion in capital expenditures."--Mike Scutari, Inside Philanthropy