(Courtesy Stan Honda/AFP/Getty)

Should the Guggenheim receive $250,000 to restore its Frank Lloyd Wright-designed doors? Or would money be better spent refurbishing the façade and entryway of the Japan Society, which was designed by Junzo Yoshimura?

Visitors to a website set up by the National Trust for Historic Preservation can now vote on those and 38 other projects that have applied to receive grants of up to $250,000 as part of a program called Partners in Preservation organized by the trust and American Express. The top four vote getters will receive funding. Voters can cast their votes once a day through May 21.

While this all seemed, at first, to be a little unnecessarily cutthroat—and also prototypically American, letting voters (instead of, say, experts) decide who gets the cash—NY1 notes that an additional $2 million in funding will be allocated to various projects by an advisory committee. Also, just for taking part in the program, each institution will receive at least $10,000.

At press time, the Brooklyn Pubic Library's proposal to replace the main entry doors of its Central Library is in first place, with nine percent of the vote.

Vote away.

Japan Society.

After serving as director of the Japan Society Gallery for four years, Joe Earle announced today that he is retiring. Mr. Earle, who was previously chair of the department of the art of Asia, Oceania, and Africa at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, will leave his position on Sept. 28, 2012.

Motoatsu Sakurai, the president of the Japan Society, lauded Mr. Early in a statement:

"Joe’s achievements over the last four years have been extraordinary. ... Despite unprecedented financial challenges in the United States and Japan and reductions in staff and financial resources, he has sustained the gallery’s reputation as one of America’s leading centers for the study and appreciation of Japanese art."

Mr. Earle's curatorial work included organizing "KRAZY! The Delirious World of Anime + Manga + Video Games" (2009), which was the second-most-popular show in the 40-year history of the gallery.