Taubman Museum 11/28/2010
I have read with serious and comical feelings the postings in the editorial pages of The Times, about the Taubman Museum. The parking letter showed one of the underlying problems with attracting patrons to the museum. The shrine to liberalism, while good satire, had no basis in facing the real problems. The letter from last Sunday made the most sense. It echoed the sentiments I wrote about on RoanokeJournal.com when the plan was first announced, making me the first to call the outcome that came to be. The number of patrons were just not there. You have a major museum in Richmond, and the Northern Virginians go to DC. That only leaves our sparsely populated SW Va. area, and West Virginia to draw from. The project was too ambitious, too costly, and like most projects the principals involved do, at the first sign of trouble, see you later i.e. Explorer Park, Mill Mountain Zoo and Theater. The massive cost did indeed cost other needy projects by sucking the money away. We now have it, so what do we do? I suggest we follow the newest director's plan. He has a much better grasp of reality than anyone associated with the project to date. A regional museum with lower prices would attract more patrons, and involve local artists (and their followings), and more local support. I like the plan. We can still have a vibrant art museum that is economically feasible, and attract tourist dollars. The only problem I see reverts back to a non addressed problem with Roanoke City. There has to be a comprehensive parking plan in downtown Roanoke. Mall parking is free, if inexpensive available parking is not available, Mr. Wall, the New Market Building, Center in the Square, and other Downtown businesses and residents are all g CommentsLeave a Reply | Who's Bill?
I was born in southern Ohio, but have made Roanoke my home for over 20 years now. ArchivesCategories |
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