Posted by John Irons at April 18, 2006 04:49 PM

In case you haven't seen this. The Smithsonian is granting exclusive access and right of first refusal on documentaries using smisonain collections.

Filmmakers and Others Petition Against Smithsonian's Showtime Deal - New York Times By LORNE MANLY Published: April 18, 2006

As the recent coupling between the Smithsonian Institution and Showtime Networks continues to roil the documentary film world, more than 215 filmmakers, television executives and academics have signed a letter demanding that the Smithsonian, a publicly financed museum, not only reveal financial details of the joint venture but also abandon it.