DETROIT (AP) - Officials with the international auction house Christie's want to meet with the Detroit Institute of Arts officials. Christie's has been hired to appraise pieces in the museum's collection as the city seeks bankruptcy protection.



DIA Executive Vice President Annmarie Erickson tells The Associated Press Wednesday that the art institute is "in the process of scheduling a meeting with Christie's to determine how they want to handle this."



The city purchased many of the pieces in the DIA collection years ago during more prosperous times, and art could be considered assets in a bankruptcy.



State-appointed emergency manager Kevyn Orr made the bankruptcy filing last month.



DIA Director Graham Beal told The Detroit News that the museum would sue to block any potential sale of works from its collection, noting that such litigation could take years.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story said the meeting had been requested by the DIA. Michigan Radio regrets the error.