COLUMBUS ARTIST COMMISSIONED BY US BOTANIC GARDEN
The United States Botanic Garden in Washington, DC has commissioned Columbus-based fiber artist and sculptor Gail Larned, to create giant, vibrant flower sculptures as part of a new permanent teaching exhibition that debuts in September. The 13 and 14-foot tall flowers are modeled after Hibiscus and Lily plants and demonstrate plant function and structure. Larned's work has been shown in more than 100 exhibitions and 20 permanent exhibitions. Among her earliest defining work is a permanent installation at the Ohio Department of Agriculture commissioned through the Ohio Percent for Art Program. Aptly titled, King Corn, the sculpture is a wall mounted, 18-foot tall stalk of corn. For more information call 614/258-7239 or email larnedmarlow@earthlink.net.
Artist Gail Larned perches on one of her Washington-bound flowers.
PROJECT JERICHO (CON'T)
Jericho's visual artist, Kristi Limes, to create African masks, rain sticks and their own costumes for a powerful performance that closed out the week. The performance was attended by nearly 100 family members, friends, social workers and probation officers. Even the initially unwilling participants exuded pride and empowerment by week's end.
In the future, Project Jericho will incorporate more family centered activities, using the arts to teach good parenting skills. Focusing on the book Seven Habits for Highly Effective Families, Project Jericho plans to launch a Summer Arts Camp for Families in 2004. For more information call 937/328-3841 or email dixonb@clarkstate.edu.
arts smarts
88% of American museums provide K-12 educational programming. Most museums offering educational programs in math, science, art, and history use local and state curriculum standards to shape their educational programs.
One-third of Americans say they have visited an art museum, a history museum, an aquarium, zoo, botanical garden, or science and technology center within the past six months.
CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART TIGHTENS BELT TO MAINTAIN BALANCED BUDGET
The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) is taking measures to reduce operating costs in order to safeguard its ability to provide its full range of services to the public. Because the present economic downturn has resulted in reduced income from the museum's endowment and other funding sources, a comprehensive self-examination of operations and staffing was conducted to determine what cost saving measures were necessary to continue to operate with a balanced budget.
The plan calls for a $3.3 million reduction, approximately 10 percent, in the museum's operating budget. Last year a five percent budget reduction was imposed. Other cost-saving actions include: reducing the number of loans to international exhibitions; lengthening the duration of major exhibitions; and restructuring the museum's retail store operations. The executive staff is taking a five percent reduction in salary. In addition, seven percent of the CMA's workforce was reduced.
All of the CMA's galleries will remain open and its hours will remain the same. The museum is one of few in the United States that does not charge admission to its permanent collections. The availability of free programs and services is central to CMA's mission.
"The decision to reduce our operating costs and staff has been a very difficult one," said museum director Katharine Lee Reid. "However, we must remain fiscally responsible, and in doing so we will remain true to our core mission: providing and stewarding one of the world's great collections of art, along with myriad programs and services, free of charge to everyone."
Because of the clear need for renovation and improved facilities for the collections, widely discussed plans for building expansion continue as the museum looks to the future and fulfilling its important role in education, economic development and as a tourist attraction in Ohio. CMA's present strategic course was designed to allow it to navigate through the current economy to the launch of its new building project, targeted for completion in 2009. Reduced operational and staff costs will not be channeled to fund the building. For more information call Donna Brock at 216/707-2260 or email dbrock@clevelandart.org.
