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Governor proposes MAC closure

Posted by NICHOLAS.DESHAIS at 11:47 AM on Wed, Dec. 15, 2010

Gov. Christine Gregoire has recommended closing Spokane's Museum of Arts and Culture in her new budget proposal (pdf), released today.

Under the heading, "How We Achieve Savings" in education, the governor wrote, "Close the state historical museums in Tacoma and Spokane, and eliminate state-funded educational programs and outreach activities through the state historical societies." According to her proposal, this could save the state $5.2 million.

In more positive news, the governor recommended continued progress on the North South Freeway, more funding for Spokane's Second Harvest food bank and money for renovating Eastern Washington University's Patterson Hall.

Tags: politics, visual art

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paineite

stupid, self-defeating idea. There are plenty of places to cut money ... including law-enforcement in victimless crime areas (simple possession, prostitution, etc) that would save far more money and do far more good ... or how about corporate loopholes and sweet-heart deals? Dec 15, 2010 | Reply to this comment

Stan2010

Note that this is the Governor´s budget "proposal." The Legislature will make the actual decision as to how to balance the budget during the regular session of the legislature beginning in January. It´s not too early to start letting your elected representatives and senators that this is a bad way to save a few dollars. The 5.2 million saved by closing the museums is less than 1/2 of 1 percent of the budget shortfall. Given that the MAC produces a net benefit to the Spokane economy of around 10 million dollars, the 1 million saved by closing the MAC makes little economic sense.

I could list at least a half dozen more reasons why closing these museums is a bad idea both economically and culturally, but I don´t want to belabor the point.

Together we can see that this doesn´t happen. Contact your legislators today and tomorrow and even the next day if you can.

Stan Mille
Concerned citizen and MAC Board member Dec 15, 2010 | Reply to this comment

pga88

It´s about time she closed something besides services for the poor.

This bloated monument to the Spokane elitist egos shouldn´t have ever been built.

The old museum was perfectly adequate. Dec 15, 2010 | Reply to this comment

joetheinformed

Nah, lets give more money to the arts while our citizens die from not having lifesaving drugs like insulin and health care that keeps them alive. We live in such a moral state where it is too painful to pay a few cents extra for teeth rotting pop and candy and environment killing bottled water. What a gross state this is. Dec 15, 2010

joetheinformed

What, no mention of her taking health insurance away from the most vulnerable in this state, which will result in killing many of our citizens? Yes, it is more important to fund the north south freeway, which probable will NEVER BE COMPLETED ANYWAY then make sure the poorest among us have lifesaving drugs and health insurance. They can just die and make more room on the north south freeway for others if it ever gets finished. I will be one of them. I sent a letter to the governor asking her to call my ten year old daughter when I am gone and explain to her how completing a bridge to nowhere, and tunnel project NO ONE wants, and not delaying a highway that has been being built for over TEN YEARS is more important than her dad. I am sure she will just ignore and sleep like a baby when that day comes. Despicable human being. Dec 15, 2010 | Reply to this comment

Joetheuninformed

I agree. We don´t need no museum that generates economic and cultural benefits; we don´t need no transportation infrastructure that supports commerce and reduces . What we need to do is hunker down and think only of ourselves. I´m with Joe. Dec 16, 2010

Str3etArt

OMG!! THEY KILLED THE MAC!! (Kenny from "South Park"). Art, image.

http://str3etart.blogspot.com/2011/04/omg-they-killed-mac.html
Apr 05, 2011 | Reply to this comment

Governor proposes MAC closure

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