By Jonathan Friedman
Lookout Staff
November
16, 2009 --The City of Santa Monica has
an opportunity to be the home of a new museum containing contemporary
artwork from the world famous collection of Edythe and Eli
Broad. But Beverly Hills and possibly others are also in the
running for this museum.
The City Council on Tuesday will consider a conceptual proposal
from the Broad Foundation to build a museum on Main Street
between the County Courthouse and the Civic Auditorium. The
Staff report written by City Manager P. Lamont Ewell stresses
more than once that “time is of the essence” to
get the project done. As part of the proposal, “the
City would commit to expedite the process while preserving
full public review.”
The proposal calls for the Foundation to lease the property
for a “nominal amount.” The Foundation would pay
“all but a small percentage” of design and construction
costs. It would also operate the museum and establish an endowment
to cover ongoing operational costs “for a world-class
public museum and art archive.”
The Broad Foundation also promises the building would be designed
by an internationally renowned architect.
The City would put “perhaps $1 million” toward
the project, Ewell wrote. Also proposed in the report is for
the City to purchase the Barnard Way property containing much
of the Foundation’s collection for $6 million.
No mention is made in the Staff report of Beverly Hills and
possibly other Cities being in the running for the museum.
But the existence of the competition has been circulating
in the media.
Ewell wrote that the benefits of the proposal are “readily
apparent.”
“The City would gain a world-class cultural amenity
in the Civic Center,” Ewell wrote. “The museum
would significantly advance City policies that strongly favor
promoting the arts and fostering cultural opportunities, particularly
in the Civic Center.”
He continued, “The museum would draw residents and visitors
to the Civic Center area which will be readily accessible
by public and private transportation. In addition to the museum,
visitors to the Civic Center could also enjoy the plethora
of unique amenities and attractions in the immediate vicinity.”
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