  Detroitman Member Username: Detroitman Post Number: 925 Registered: 06-2004 Posted From: 216.78.40.180 |
Museums, market may be up next By Robert Ankeny Sherri Begin • March 06, 2006 The dust hasn’t settled on the Detroit Zoo deal, but the Detroit City Council today is expected to start work on a similar arrangement for the Detroit Historical Museums. An agreement to transfer management responsibility for the museums to its fundraising arm, the Detroit Historical Society, is on the council’s agenda this week. The museum deal includes the Detroit Historical Museum, the Dawson Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle and the Collections Resource Center at Historic Fort Wayne. “These are all fantastic cultural attractions we want to be available for the city of Detroit and the region,” said James Canning, communications coordinator for Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. “But we can no longer afford to be in the business of running zoos and historical museums.” The city also is considering an agreement to have the operation of Eastern Market run by Eastern Market Corp., a reorganization of the nonprofit Eastern Market Advancement Coalition. Canning said he could not predict when that agreement will come before the council but said, “We’re looking to move on that soon as well.” The council last week tentatively approved a plan to shift management responsibility for the Detroit Zoological Institute to the Detroit Zoological Society. The council rejected the transfer at its first vote Feb. 18, after several members questioned whether it was in the best interests of the city. The city still will own the zoo’s current and future assets, including the Royal Oak property and the Belle Isle Nature Zoo. But the society will have management and operational control and pay all costs for personnel and benefits for the zoo’s 150 employees. The transfer is contingent on the society getting $4 million from the state to help fund the zoo operation this year. The city agreed to provide the zoo with $5 million in capital-improvement funding for 2006-2007 and to pay for insurance and security costs for the zoo properties during the same period. The historical society and city have been discussing a similar transfer plan since last summer, said Bob Bury, executive director and CEO of the society. As proposed, the city would retain ownership of the museum, its land and contents. The society plans to add eight city employees to its staff of 17 once the agreement is final, following the recent retirement of two museum employees and shift of six people to other city departments, Bury said. The museum projects a 2006 budget of $2.65 million and asks the city for 20 percent to 25 percent. The museum had a $4.6 million budget for fiscal 2005, with the city providing $2.6 million of that, he said. The society has raised about $300,000 since last summer to assist the museum through the operational transition, Bury said. The Detroit Institute of Arts, which went through a similar separation from the city in 1997, has advised the historical society on the privatization process and organizational structure, Bury said. The City Council and the Kilpatrick administration also will soon discuss another public-private partnership to run Eastern Market. Kate Beebe, an urban planner with the Gensler architecture firm who helped develop the market corporation idea while working at the Downtown Detroit Partnership, said several major grant offers totaling nearly $4 million expire in June unless the city has agreed to let the new nonprofit operate and promote Eastern Market. Included is $2 million from the Kresge Foundation, $1 million from the Kellogg Foundation, plus $700,000 from the Michigan Economic Development Corp., and Gov. Granholm’s Cool Cities Initiative. Plans call for building a public square for year-round entertainment activities at the south end of the market, plus upgrading and expanding market sheds and thoroughfares. The new corporation also would launch significant community and regional marketing programs, Beebe said. The nonprofit corporation is to be run by a 21-member board of directors. Seven of them would represent city departments involved with the market, seven would be business owners, farmers and vendors who use the market and the other seven spots would include representatives of the governor’s office, DTE Energy Co., and foundations and other organizations offering funding or programs. http://www.crainsdetroit.com/c gi-bin/article.pl?articleId=28 908 | ||
Skulker Member Username: Skulker Post Number: 3647 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.103.104.93 |
Thank god the Dossin Great Lakes Museum isn't going to be part of all that.... (Message edited by skulker on March 06, 2006) | ||
Spitty Member Username: Spitty Post Number: 433 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 136.2.1.101 |
Nope, just the "Dawson Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle." It's too bad they couldn't have figured out something like this to save Dawson's Creek as well. I guess the city was no longer interested in managing television shows where thirty year olds play thirteen year olds. | ||
Danny Member Username: Danny Post Number: 3782 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 141.217.174.223 |
If the city " CLOWNSIL" can transfer management of the Detroit Zoo to the Detroit Zoological Society, then the "CLOWNSIL" can transfer the Detroit Historical Museum to the Detroit Historical Society, too! | ||
Skamour Member Username: Skamour Post Number: 218 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 69.136.145.142 |
This just in, Council is considering selling a few letters from the name "Detroit" and is looking at buying an S and H and tacking it on the front so they can give this place a name it really deserves. Even Orwell would be disgusted. | ||
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1 Post Number: 6901 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 198.208.251.24 |
Why does privatization of money losers disgust anyone. Smart financial sense to haev other organizations run these places. It's a different time and the city can't afford it. When will people realize that the role of city government is to provide services, not employ people. | ||
Bongman Member Username: Bongman Post Number: 964 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 198.111.56.128 |
Went to Dossin & the Conservatory on Saturday just after Noon. We were alone in both. If that's the kind of crowd they get during the Winter months, I don't expect either to stay open long. The Conservatory was absolutely beautiful by the way. | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1033 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.251.225 |
The curator of the Dossin was pink-slipped two weeks ago, and I understand that there were another ten who got the bad news. I have no idea who will run the Dossin now, much less if it will even stay open on its already limited hours of week-ends only. With all the outrage over the zoo, the Historical Dept's problems pretty much got swept under the rug. Something may materialize this week. We shall see. | ||
Jsmyers Member Username: Jsmyers Post Number: 1463 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 209.131.7.68 |
I was there a bit later, and the Conservatory was basically busy. My visiting sister left to make a phone call because it was "crowded." Almost went into Dossin, but decided that we needed to move on for time. | ||
Bongman Member Username: Bongman Post Number: 965 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 198.111.56.128 |
That's good to hear Js. Did you notice the tulips and daffs coming up in front ? Made the whole trip for me...Spring is near ! | ||
Jsmyers Member Username: Jsmyers Post Number: 1464 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 209.131.7.68 |
Yes, but I was wondering if they weren't something a little earlier, like crocuses. | ||
Mrsjdaniels Member Username: Mrsjdaniels Post Number: 160 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 69.221.67.104 |
the curator of the Dossin was the only one with a key to the building in recent years... and the other pink slip 'ees' were guest relations assistants...so logically, there is no one PHYSICALLY open and be responsible for the museum. same thing with the Fort...there was no staff to keep it open and operable so it too will fall under the knife eventually...only being opened to host events if they can rent the place, another job that was pinkslipped two years ago | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 339 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 68.2.191.57 |
The webcam at http://www.glmi.org/webcam/ still seems operational. | ||
Mrsjdaniels Member Username: Mrsjdaniels Post Number: 162 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 69.221.67.104 |
check the main website (detroithistorical.org) the Society has started an emergency fund campaign... just before they were scheduled to start the Captial Campaign...(snide remark) | ||
Mrsjdaniels Member Username: Mrsjdaniels Post Number: 164 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 71.144.119.225 |
HISTORY IS FOREVER… Help Save Our Past, Present and Future For more than 75 years, the Detroit Historical Society and the City of Detroit have worked together to preserve the vibrant history of Southeastern Michigan for future generations. With recent City budget cuts, the Society has been asked to assume greater responsibility for the funding and operations of the three Detroit Historical Museums and we need the help of the entire community to make that possible! We need your help today to ensure that: Three cultural treasures – the Detroit Historical Museum, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum and Historic Fort Wayne – remain open to the public Tens of thousands of schoolchildren from throughout the region can continue to visit the Museums and learn about our region’s history More than 300,000 of our region’s priceless artifacts (from our extraordinary Downtown Hudson’s collection to Ernie Harwell’s microphone) remain safe and preserved for future generations The Detroit Historical Society can continue to deliver unique, high-quality programs in the community – from neighborhood walking tours to behind-the-scenes tours of historic sites. As the guardians of our region’s history, the Detroit Historical Society is committed to ensuring that Southeastern Michigan residents for generations to come can experience and understand our vibrant past. Keep Your History Alive! Support the Detroit Historical Society today! How can you help? Make an online donation! Click here to make an online donation. Mail or call in a donation! Call Michelle Wooddell at 313-833-1627 or print the Donation Form below and return it to the Society. |
