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Date: | Thu, 8 Aug 1996 13:16:34 -0500 |
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>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
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