I think you are missing the major issue - QUALITY OF LIFE!  We don't know who
we are unless we know from whence we come!  Museums provides the touchstones
to the past that inform the future.  They EXPAND the minds of ALL
citizens...which is good for the town or city.  They act as community centers that help
with cohesive community building.

They also are value added to a community - ie. they keep real estate property
prices high (folks want to live near cultural institutions) they help
businesses (upper end businesses like to house their employees in cultural
communities); they provide a destination that attracts people to the town thereby
helping local business, gas stations, restaurants, shops etc.
 The NEA has some nifty figures on the financial benefits to cultural centers
like museums....some of the areas to cover are:'
JOBS ( a big thing with politicians...count up your jobs to start and don't
forget your construction folks - the restorers, the maintenance folks, the air
conditioning folks, the cleaning service, the caterers, check every budget
item that relates to a job in the community - cleaning windows, replacing windows
etc etc.. be creative and you will find that even a museum with a staff of 7
or 8 probably actually employs 100 people during a year)
PART TIME JOBS....(don't forget these )
VOLUNTEERS ( community outreach to create cohesive communities and community
building)
    - ESPECIALLY SENIORS  (this is a major senior support system if you have
docents and/or senior activiites)
ANCILLARY BUSINESS BENEFITS: restaurants, stores, gas stations ,
construction, repair etc

All the best,
Maggie Harrer
The Water Works Conservancy, Inc.
PO BOX 741
Oradell, NJ 07649
Phone: 201-967-0133
Fax: 201-967-7517
Website: www.HWWC.org

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