A couple points to ponder:

We rely heavily on government funding. If a museum supports (or is seen as supporting) candidate X over candidate Y, and candidate X loses, will winning candidate Y look favorably upon said museum when negotiating the next budget?  Will candidate Y look upon all museums as potentially allied with the opposition?  Given that no party stays in power too long, it seems like a losing proposition for us to ally with any campaign or party.

Similarly, what will happen to our public support if we become partisan?  We risk losing revenue at the gate if visitors see us as partisan or biased.  We risk losing their votes on ballot propositions.

The fact is, right now, people across the political spectrum view us favorably.  (Not as favorably as we might like, but that's another topic.)  Controversial, polarizing exhibits -- Enola Gay, Mapplethorpe, etc. -- are extremely rare.  Most voters, and thus most politicians, generally see museums as warm fuzzies -- something that's nice to have, something they'll support, but not too much.  They like museums, but for the most part they're not passionate about them.  If we wade into partisan waters, we'll see passion aplenty.  Unfortunately, it'll be split pro and con, leaving us no better off in the short run -- and, I fear, worse off in the long run.

Eugene Dillenburg

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