Indigo, et. al.,
I'm not sure I agree - but I'm not sure I disagree either. What difference
is there between holding a political rally and renting your space to another
organization, excepting of course scale and politics? Furthermore, if you
have a political figure speak in favor of your facility (e.g. the Governor
or Mayor dedicating a new expansion) aren't you holding a de facto political
rally? Given current discussions about integrating your Museum with your
community, hosting a political rally seems like a logical choice - providing
that the Museum itself makes no endorsement.
Which, of course, is the problem. Though (perhaps) unintended, the public
sure would think your institution is either A) getting its back scratched,
or B) aligned with the politician/party for some purpose. But, assuming the
politician/party goes through the same channels and pays the same fees as
other groups is it appropriate for the Museum to say no? Could/Should we be
making choices about who are (are not) acceptable renters (excepting the
obvious - e.g. hate groups, etc.)?
I think this is a tight situation and a difficult decision. I certainly
wouldn't want to be the one telling the President, "No thank you," if he
offers a visit/rally. My solution is to insure that the party/politician
uses the same channels as anyone else. Make them no different than a wedding
and, should a media dust storm arise, you can deflect criticisms by pointing
to your rental policy.
But really, who is going to say no to the President? :)
All my best,
George Garner
|-----Original Message-----
|From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
|Behalf Of P Boylan
|Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2002 9:57 AM
|To: [log in to unmask]
|Subject: Re: Should Museums Lend Themselves to Political Rallies?
|
|
|Indigo:
|
|I'm sure you are right on the question of principle, but what is the
|"Wings over the Rockies" Museum where this happened? It sounds like an
|Air Force Museum to me, which case would things be different?
|
|
|
|Patrick
|
|P.S. If we want to look at doubtfully appropriate uses, the London
|Natural History Museum has been the official venue of London
|Fashion Week
|and many of its shows for the past decade or so - as I understand it
|purely as a money-raising venture.
|
|P.P.S. Perhaps there IS a natural history element after all, since the
|models do parade on CAT-walks!!
|
|
|
|
|
|==================================
|
|On Tue, 29 Oct 2002, Indigo Nights wrote:
|
|> At the bottom of this note, I am including a clip from
|> the Denver Rocky Mountain News stating that Bush held
|> a political rally yesterday at one of its museums.
|>
|> My question to this forum is: Do you believe that
|> museums should be the place to hold such fora?
|>
|> My personal thought is that it disturbs me quite a
|> bit. It is one thing to have a dignitary visit and
|> promote the museum but not for political exploit (I
|> recognize that sometimes that is hard to strain out).
|>
|> My thought is that museums, in order to preserve the
|> integrity of their "neutral" education based purpose
|> (among others) should remain neutral in such matters
|> and not sponsor politics.
|>
|> Ok, so we've done the religious thing for the last
|> week, I guess it's time for the politics.
|>
|> I will admit that it bothers me because it is Bush and
|> the politics are not my own, and I will further add
|> that I do not see this as a way to promote funding to
|> the museum since this has been an administration where
|> it's dangerous to do a "grab and grin" with the prez.
|> A number of NPOs who have done so one day have seen
|> their funding cut the next.
|>
|> With that said, what's the concensus of the group
|> about using your institution for political rally? Yea
|> or Nay?
|>
|> *** Bush stop sparks protests ***
|> Bush supporter Kate Kile of Manitou Springs smiles at
|> Bush opponents
|> Monday at Wings Over the Rockies museum at Lowry Air
|> Force Base. "The
|> First Amendment is great, isn't it?" Kile said as she
|> walked past
|> demonstrators. President Bush flew into Denver to
|> support incumbent Sen. Wayne
|> Allard and Bob Beauprez, who is running in the 7th
|> Congressional
|> District.
|>
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/election/article/0,1299,DRMN_36_150948
9,00.html
>
>
>
> =====
> Indigo Nights
> [log in to unmask]
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