Gov. Jan Brewer announced this morning the the Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum will become the Arizona Centennial Museum for the State's 2012 celebration. The museum will be transferred from the Arizona Dept of Mines and Mineral Resources to the Centennial Commission then subsequently to the Arizona Historical Society.
The new Centennial Museum will showcase Arizona's "5 C's" - copper, cattle, citrus, climate, and cotton.
This is unbelievable. In this economy, how can the Governor possibly propose such an unnecessary expenditure? Furthermore, how much has already been paid to Gallagher & Associates for that artwork you posted on the blog? That money should not have been spent at a time when essential services are being cut. Is no one protecting the taxpayers pocketbook?
ReplyDeleteRichard, Gov. Brewer pledged that the new museum is to be funded by private contributions, not state funds. Also, Gallagher and Associates did the preliminary design pro bono - no cost to the state.
ReplyDeleteIf none of our money is being spent, why is all the planning being done in secret? Why did the Freeport member of the Centennial Commission direct the ADMMR to remove the Governors presentation from the ADMMR website? What is the budget, and how much has been collected thus far? Has any private firm or individual pledged any money yet?
ReplyDeleteRichard, I don't know the answers to these questions.
ReplyDeleteHeard the Governor held a second closed door meeting on her centennial exhibit on Wednesday February 17. Anybody know what happened?
ReplyDeleteHB2617, scheduled for a hearing on Monday afternoon, is rumored to be the bill with clauses attached that eliminate the mineral museum. The exact content of the bill is secret.
ReplyDeleteThis is the problem with AZ.. Richard.. people do not appreciate culture, history or art in this community, The entire project is being funded by private donors..and people in this state need to learn to appreciate art, culture and education.
ReplyDeleteArizona is looking backward, not forward. Earth science is necessary in the future use of the earth's resources. This can support jobs in the environment, hydrology, mining, mineralogy, geology and other critical future careers.
ReplyDeleteThe 5 Cs are a joke for the future. It's too bad Arizona lives in the past. This is typical of the uneducated and short-sighted.
Denise
Four years later, the memory of the centennial museum is an embarrassment. Arizona botched the "centerpiece" of its centennial celebration. In the process, they destroyed a top rated existing museum and its K-12 earth science education programs. A detailed, chronological record of the fiasco is available on the blog Mineral Museum Madness.
ReplyDelete