ALBANY — "My husband and I are appalled by what is, or isn’t, happening at the State Museum!"
So began one of the many emails I received after Thursday's column, which lamented the decline of one of the region's top institutions and wondered about the dramatic transformation we were promised back in 2015. That $14 million renewal, we were told then, was set to remake the museum into "a much more interactive experience, with video projections, computer-generated effects, sound recordings and user-friendly displays."
What happened?
Cue the crickets.
The good news is that, judging by my inbox, the State Museum remains important to many of you and concern about its deterioration is widespread, including, unsurprisingly, among its employees. I heard from several who shared insider viewpoints while lamenting the malaise at their "neglected gem." Other readers noted that the museum's gift shop has closed, in addition to, as I initially mentioned, the eatery, carousel and several popular exhibitions.
The not-so-good news is that I still don't have solid answers for why that planned renovation didn't happen.
A spokesman for the state Department of Education, which operates the State Museum, only said that "the museum is in the middle of a multi-phase renewal process" and said the long-planned "$14 million project warrants a thoughtful approach to ensure it is the success we all believe it can be."
Hey, I'm all in favor of thoughtful approaches. But in 2015, we were told that an ambitious and exciting renovation master plan was done, that it would add 35,000 square feet of exhibition space and, with funding in place, it would be completed within four years. Why hasn't even a hint of progress been made? How much more navel-gazing does this "thoughtful approach" require?
The spokesman, JP O'Hare, added that some planning was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. "More details on this exciting endeavor will be presented to the public this fall," O'Hare said in an email.
Great! Can't wait to hear them. In the meantime, the State Museum is limping along. The carousel has been closed for several years. During my recent visit, escalators and elevators were out of service. Hungry visitors were lining up at vending machines. And too many exhibits looked dated and unchanged from decades ago.
The carousel repair project was delayed by the pandemic, O'Hare said, and is scheduled to be completed this summer. Outside vendors for the cafe and the gift shop, he said, terminated their contracts during the pandemic. And Discovery Place, the hands-on learning center for young kids, closed because "the pandemic forced us to rethink touchable exhibits."
I get that the pandemic was difficult for museums. Others, though, managed to emerge with their cafes and gift shops intact. Why can't the State Museum find new operators? And wouldn't pandemic shutdowns have been the perfect time to get renovation work done?
As one reader put it: "So many smart organizations recognized the opportunity that the pandemic offered to minimize disruption and do something significant. Everything was much more available and cheaper then. All that time and money wasted."
There may be bigger issues at play here, including the aforementioned malaise. For one thing, the Department of Education is not exactly known for its verve and ingenuity. And as mentioned by an employee, it is noteworthy that Mark Schaming, the museum's executive director, was also made the department's deputy commissioner of cultural education.
I would think running the State Museum would be a big enough job on its own, especially amid that big transformation we were promised. I'd love to ask the director/deputy commissioner how he manages both jobs except that ... "Mr. Schaming is not available for an interview," O'Hare said.
Of course, public ownership makes the State Museum fundamentally different than many others. There are benefits to state ownership, but also drawbacks.
"Unlike private museums or businesses, the State Museum is subject to the push and pull of the State Budget negotiations," O'Hare said. "The Museum and the entire Office of Cultural Education are at a critical stage where expenses are exceeding revenue, and programs and services have been reduced or eliminated, including State Museum positions and programming."
Well, if funding is the problem, Schaming & Co. should be pleased I'm writing about the museum's slide as the state budget is being debated. (Somehow, I don't get the impression they're pleased by the attention.) Meanwhile, there's evidence that this region is ready to welcome a rejuvenated State Museum.
The newly expanded Children's Museum at Saratoga doubled its attendance since moving to a new location and is putting families on waiting lists to get in. The president of Schenectady's Museum of Innovation and Science, Gina Gould, told me it has never had better attendance than in recent months.
Imagine, then, what a certain institution in Albany could be achieving, given its assets, location and visibility. Imagine what it could mean for a city that desperately needs family attractions.
Nobody wants to criticize the State Museum, which remains a special place for many of us. But we wouldn't be doing the museum — or this region — a favor to ignore its decline. Again: Is this the best New York can do?
cchurchill@timesunion.com ■ 518-454-5442 ■ @chris_churchill
"still" - Google News
March 25, 2023 at 09:06PM
https://ift.tt/x7Mjf25
Churchill: Still no explanation for State Museum's decline - Times Union
"still" - Google News
https://ift.tt/EhiD1Tb
https://ift.tt/BeMmV3N
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Churchill: Still no explanation for State Museum's decline - Times Union"
Post a Comment