>You know you've reached the pinnacle of success, however, when you
>succeed
>in persuading a donor to give money to rennovate the restrooms.


I saw a museum where someone sponsored the wheelchair ramp and door in a
renovation project--and yes, it was named for them.

We couldn't have raised $8.5 million for a new building if it weren't for
people wanting to have things named after them.  I do not find this
unethical:  on the contrary, I find it a very creative exercise to find
naming opportunities at a variety of sponsorship levels.  (Our least
expensive is a new tree on the grounds at $200, then a seat in the
auditorium at $300)

What I do find unethical, however, is when corporations seek to sponsor very
popular museum exhibitions to get over a rash of bad press because of their
business practices.  I don't mind it if they see it as a way to extend their
name recognition to a targeted market, but it is unethical to use the arts
to compensate for bad business decisions and it is unethical for the museum
to accept a sponsorship on those terms.


Julia Moore
Indianapolis Art Center