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Briscoe Western Art Museum

September 18, 2011

Sunday Sept 18, 2011

The Briscoe Western Art Museum is still a work in progress. As a college graduate you will no doubt become involved in some non-profit activities. Don't be afraid to ask the tough questions about accounting and budgets. Here is an example of what happens when no one asks. Costs have soared from $16 M to $30 M , and it is not open yet.

I wrote about a smaller museum catastrophe, Museo Alameda last year, and the year before. This was an idea to promote a Latin Culture Museum. Since then the City of San Antonio has sunk hundreds of thousands of YOUR dollars into this failed project. Last year it put on one display. And recall that right on IH 37, we already have the successful Institute of Texas Cultures, why start another?

At any rate, remember this

It is incredibly difficult to stop a bad idea wrapped with good intentions.

Indeed even as the local paper bemoaned the loss of money it refereed to Alameda as a

'potential gem' instead of the good money after bad example it has become.

As a Board Member, I hope you will ask the hard questions about markets, budgets, attendance, and probability of success. Imagine the embarassment of being a Board Member of a failed project.

I have hopes for the Briscoe, a substantial local philanthropist is on board, but even now, I understand, whoops, they have don't have the art yet….

Posted in Financial Acct

6 responses to “Briscoe Western Art Museum”

Chelsea Mendez

September 18, 2011

I just do not understand why these projects keep failing. When the city decides to fund such projects, are they reviewing the whole package at all. So much money goes to waste in our day in age. That is why this whole country is in debt because people come in knowing how to control funds and in fact they are just plain stupid!

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Phillip Garcia

September 18, 2011

What happen to following the budget, I pretty sure the board went to college and know something about accounting and budgets. Most taxpayers prefer that their taxes go to permanent jobs for the unemployed, not an over budget art museum that’s not ready. Art museums are fine, but jobs come first. I remember a quote that goes something like this, “I will learn war so that my son will learn commerce, so that his son will learn the arts.” The U.S. economy is not doing well; money for the arts should be last on the list. If the U.S. economy was doing well then the arts should get taxpayers funds. An over budget art program, will surely sours the taxpayer in supporting the arts.

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Luis Martinez

September 18, 2011

When public funds are used, there is often a sense that it is a bottomless pit of money. Public officials who should be held accountable to the use of that money too often see it as a means of getting re-elected and they approve projects or programs without asking penetrating and pertinent questions. Or they rely to heavily on their staff. Certain art forms deserve public funding because they might not survive into the next generation, but the responsibility to ensure public funds are spent properly rests with those who are elected. And if they do a poor job of “vetting” the project or program, we all suffer. Ultimately, being informed of your representative’s actions and letting him or her know you’re watching is probably the best way to avoid these kinds of fiascos.

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Marisol Reyes

September 19, 2011

We are in a time where we should be preserving our costs intsead of spending it here or there. The public officials need to be part accountable for the use of the money and follow a budget. There are other ways we can support the arts and be cautious of costs.

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Colton Thayer

September 19, 2011

When public projects like this start, they should have a maximum budget and the plans should be final. When you can keep adding on because it is funded by the city, there is no telling how big a project like this could get. Also, an extravagant building filled with nothing is worse than a modest one full of great art.

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Laura Dorantes

September 19, 2011

I agree that they should have a budget and not go over it. They are just wasting a lot of money when there is not time for it. I mean there are many people out there who don’t have a job and instead of creating the jobs, the city is investing it in the museum. The museum is not as necessary as the jobs the city needs.

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