hmmm. Is the Coburn amendment such a surprise given the way AAM
promotes the museum sector? Coburn — perhaps disingenuously — echoes
Ford's logic of museums as a 'water-park phenomenon'.
"None of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available by this
Act may be used for any casino or other gambling establishment,
aquarium, zoo, golf course, swimming pool, stadium, community park,
museum, theater, arts center, or highway beautification project,
including renovation, remodeling, construction, salaries, furniture,
zero-gravity chairs, big screen televisions, beautification, rotating
pastel lights, and dry heat saunas."
New York Times. 12 March 2008:
"While museum market research has been around for two decades,
gathering data about visitors has never been as important, or as
sophisticated, as it is now. As museums expand, they need more paying
customers to cover ever-increasing costs. And they're competing for
those customers with local shopping malls, movie theaters, even
grocery stores.
"I call it the water-park phenomenon," said Ford Bell, president and
chief executive of the American Association of Museums in Washington.
"A zillion other things are competing for our leisure time. People
might visit a museum to see a Monet or a toaster or a textile display
-- what's important is it's getting them in the door."
AAM email. 5 February 2009:
"Call Your Senators Today! Senate Votes Against Vitter Amendment to
Restrict Funds; Coburn Amendment May Still Be Considered
"On Wednesday, February 4, during Senate consideration of the
economic stimulus bill, Sen. David Vitter offered an amendment (S.
Amdt. 179) that contained a provision barring funds from being used
for zoos, aquariums, or a Mob Museum. ("None of the funds
appropriated or otherwise made available in this Act may be used for
any casino or other gambling establishment, aquarium, zoo, golf
course, swimming pool, or Mob Museum.") ...
"I am pleased that this misguided amendment failed," said AAM
President Ford Bell. "But the fact that museums, zoos, and aquariums
are being targeted in this way illustrates the fact that we need to
educate our legislators about how museums serve as economic engines
and are a vital part of our nation's educational infrastructure."
oh yeah, there's that education thing...
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