With a lot of dust being stirred up, it look like the Tampa Museum of Art is still looking for a new home. Mayor Iorio is insistent on an open riverfront - although she hints of mid rise residential/commercial space and talks of a museum district in the Franklin Street Area. The Tampa Museum of Art Board maintains that they need more and new space and have pushed for a riverfront site.
Lots of issues have been raised over these plans. Among them are the continuing operating costs of the museum and of course, the cost of construction too. How important is the building itself ? What size and form of exhibit space is required and can be afforded ?
Do we need to spend the money ? What is the "real" value of the museum ? Should it be in downtown at all ? Lots of questions, and so far not many answers
At a potential cost of construction of over $100 million and a per year city contribution of near $1 million, can or should we afford it ?
What do you think ?
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As a young professional in Tampa, and an avid art supporter, it goes without saying I want a new museum. What is the "real value" of an art museum? 80,000 visiotrs a year. 25,000 school children a year. Multiple art programs attended by all demographics. Our museum is a place where people can express their creativity, or simply admire and discuss the work of others.
What people often overlook is that 25 years ago community and city leaders paid for a survey that said the best place for the musuem was along the river. 25 years later I still believe this is true.
Also, the current facility is NOT structurally sound. It is much too small for the collections to be properly displayed, much less to draw "blockbuster" shows to our city. There is no auditorium, adequate educational space, cafe or room for necessary expansion.
I do support the need for green space in our city. But what better complement for a park than an art museum, and vice versa? I would be thrilled to meet friends (some of whom will soon live dowtown) at the art museum to see the latest show, then stroll through the adjacent park, enjoying the river and yes, our 'identity', the Minarets. What I do not understand is why the Mayor is hell bent on elimiating this option. She claims this is our 'last chance for green space'. What about the prime property that will soon be Trump Towers? Isn't there a saying about money and B.S.? Again, how could sharing a park with a museum be a bad idea? It would be an improvement to the area to have multiple destinations for visitors.
(I won't touch Kiley Gardens right now. It was a good idea until the city was charged with its maintenance. Quickly and quietly the park fell into disrepair. Why is this city so short-sighted?)
As a young woman in Tampa, who once lived in Atlanta, it upsets me to see this city's lack of vision and progress. Young people move to cities for work but also to live. The art museum and the city's response to the matter is another example that our city regresses more each year. Great acheivement involves great risk! (Dali Lama)
The anchor of our "City of the Arts" should be the Tampa Museum of Art. And that anchor should be located on the river.
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