How much more will you need for the Perelman building? As far as maintenance, how 250 4/18/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. much more is it going to cost to maintain that?
I will leave that with Gail Harrity to answer that specific question, and I'd like to come back for a moment at the end.
I think the additional operating costs for the Museum is in the neighborhood of $1.5 million to operate this City-owned building and new gallery space for the Perelman building. A portion of that is security and maintenance, but the total operating costs are 1.5 million.
Thank you. Councilwoman Brown, your light was on.
And then I accidentally pushed it off, but I'm prepared for testimony when you're finished.
It's still not coming up on the screen. 251 4/18/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. However, did you want to be recognized?
I join the many who read with interest -- and I'm still reading it. I'll probably be reading it well until after June 1 -- the Rand study, which just in a great way gave us a sense of where we are, as well as highlighted the challenges that still persist for those of us who care about the arts and culture sector of our city. And as much as I understood the elimination of the Office of Arts and Culture, I'm pleased to see that the potential new leadership at the top of the ticket, all of them agree that that office should be reestablished as a 252 4/18/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. cabinet-level position. Let me hear your thoughts, if you will, about -- do you believe that we as a city are maximizing resources or funding streams when it comes to public funding for the arts? I mean, what this doesn't tell us is what other cities are doing in a non-traditional way for publicly funding their arts and culture sector. So do you have any ideas, recommendations that we should look to or look at or consider for implementation on how we can better fund the arts and culture sector?
That's a very good question, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, and we are indeed always looking, together with our trustees and other community members in the arts and beyond, for ways in which we can essentially increase not only the City's investment but broaden it to its support from the region. And actually there was an interesting op-ed article in the 253 4/18/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. newspaper, in the Inquirer, yesterday by the Mayor of Denver, who was a Philadelphia resident originally and who describes the process that Denver has gone through in working through regional support for the arts. I mean, what is clear from the examples I think that we are aware of is that the City's support is crucial. If the City is participating with its share in the investment in the arts and cultural institutions, there is far more incentive for the region, the municipalities and the county's surrounding region or the entire state to get more involved. There are a number of models. I think that this is a discussion that is a very important one and it's certainly a discussion which is being led by a number of our trustees, including the Chairman of our Board. And I would just say that while the Museum has been extraordinarily thrilled and grateful to have financial 254 4/18/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. support from both private individuals and foundations, those same individuals and foundations are supporting great educational causes all across Philadelphia, great healthcare issues all across Philadelphia, great community issues in the United Way all across Philadelphia. So we are very mindful that we are just one of a number of causes they have, and it's the City's support and the City's inspiration of future support from other government sources that makes them feel they can continue to give to City institutions and causes.
Does the potential budget cut affect after-school programming, any of the arts and education programming, and if it does not, what may it potentially impact? Or have you had a chance to figure that out yet?
I think quantifying it -- I think what is so 255 4/18/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. difficult, I will say, Councilwoman, is that every year we raise very substantial funds for our education programs, for outreach programs, for in particularly after school, and it's the degree to which we then turn our attention to trying to make up for an unexpected gap in City funding that takes our attention away from trying to fund those other things that are so key to the students' and the kids' well-being.
Sure. In your testimony, is there any discussion of the after-school programming, how many young people are served, what collaborations exist with existing area public schools?
I think you'll find quite extensive detail in the full testimony, programs for teenagers -- and some of them may not be defined exactly as after school, but we can easily provide you with that information.
If you 256 4/18/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. would, that would be extremely helpful.
And then, lastly -- that covers my questioning. Thank you very much.
And for the enormously important, good work you do on all levels given your place in our arts and culture sector here in the City.
Thank you. Are there any other questions 257 4/18/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. or comments from members of the Committee? (No response.)
This Committee will stand in recess until Monday, the 23rd. The County Commissioners office could not attend today, so we'll hear them first on the 23rd. Thank you. (Committee of the Whole adjourned at 2:45 p.m.) - - - 258 CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter on April 18, 2007, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. ______________________________ MICHELE L. MURPHY RPR-Notary Public (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)