The governor's budget calls for the closing of the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture.
Because heaven knows the state will save millions this way. Plus, who doesn't want a more pronounced red-blue divide in this state and this country?
The museum's talking points, and a list of legislators to contact, on the jump.
To: The MAC Community
Date: December 15, 2010
Re: MAC Facts
Following is a list of points to consider when discussing the MACâs State Biennium (2012-2013)
Budget allocation. The list is not meant to be all inclusive but to serve as an outline for your use.
In any case, please refer questions and requests for additional information to Ron Rector, MAC
Executive Director, our designated MAC spokesman.
1. The MAC is a proven steward of state resources:
a. Finished the 2010 fiscal year in the black despite a 21% funding decrease and a
40% staff reduction
b. Re-opened Campbell House under volunteer leadership and staffing
c. Local dollars raised are consistently in excess of $1 million.
2. The MAC is a âmust seeâ regional cultural treasure:
a. The MAC, founded in 1916, is the largest cultural organization in the Inland
Northwest with 5 underground galleries, the historic 1898 Campbell House, Joel
E. Ferris Library & Archives, an orientation gallery, café, store, education center,
community room and the Center for Plateau Cultural Studies.
b. The MAC campus (expanded in 2001 with a $30 million renovation) also includes
an auditorium and outdoor amphitheater. The exhibits and programs focus on
three major disciplines: American Indian and other cultures, regional history and
visual art.
c. Our collection, with over 39,000 American Indian, 22,000 regional history, and1,500 art objects including the 252,109 records archive is nationally renowned.
d. Attracts over 100,000 visitors annually including nearly 4,000 K-12 students.
e. The Kirkland Cutter designed Campbell House, one of the most popular museum
attractions, is our largest artifact, with student and public tours staffed by
trained volunteer docents, consistently our most popular attraction.
f. The MACâs educational programs include vibrant student and family learning
experiences such as Living History Day, the Plateau tribes Living Legacy tour and
learning laboratory, Campbell House exploration and hands-on art activities in
the art studio.
g. The MAC is an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and one of the first
museums in the United States to be accredited by the American Association of
Museums.3. Our cultural partnerships are significant, innovative and meaningful.
a. The American Indian Cultural Council works in concert with the MAC to ensure
Tribal people have access to cultural material and that traditions are respected
for what is one of the top ten Plateau Indian collections in the United States.
b. MAC partnerships include affiliation agreements with regional colleges and
universities, including the new collaboration between the MAC Center for
Cultural Plateau Studies and the WSU Plateau Center with its shared
directorship.
c. The expanded annual visiting artist lecture series with Spokane Falls Community
College and Eastern Washington University as well as new initiatives with the
Washington State Historical Society and the Washington State Digital Archives
leverage resources to showcase regional and national artists and create
memorable exhibits.
d. Our Visual Thinking Strategies art program focuses on enhancing childrenâs
critical thinking and communication skills, is proven to raise reading, math, and
writing proficiency and serves hundreds of children and teachers annually
4. The MAC is an important contributor to the regionâs economy
a. Cultural travelers stay longer and spend more than other visitors. Event-related
spending pumps revenue into restaurants, hotels and retail businesses. The
MAC is the first non-metro market to land the international blockbuster
Leonardo da Vinci: Man, Inventor, Genius exhibit opening June 3, 2011. The
exhibit is expected to attract 40,000 new visitors to the region.
b. The MAC helps recruit and maintain businesses, serving as a barometer of the
regionâs quality of life. The MAC contributes an estimated $10 million to our
regionâs economy.
5. Impact at the proposed funding level.
a. The American Indian objects and sacred room will be unavailable to tribal
members, which will cause significant cultural turmoil.
b. The building will closed to the public, its collections inaccessible.
c. An unoccupied facility creates the potential for vandalism and theft and will
subject the neighborhood to unwarranted blight.
2011 Elected Officials â Spokane Region
Lisa Brown, Ph.D.
3rd District Senator (D)
360-786-7604/509-456-2760
brown.lisa@leg.wa.gov
Kevin Parker
6th District Representative (R)
360-786-7922
parker.kevin@leg.wa.gov
Timm Ormsby
3rd District Representative (D)
360-786-7946/509-458-2122
ormsby.timm@leg.wa.gov
Bob Morton
7th District Senator (R)
360-786-7612/509-684-5132
morton.bob@leg.wa.gov
Andy Billig
3rd District Representative (D)
billig.andy@leg.wa.gov
Joel Kretz
7th District Representative (R)
360-786-7988/509-826-7203
kretz.joel@leg.wa.gov
Bob McCaslin
4th District Senator (R)
360-786-7606
mccaslin.bob@leg.wa.gov
Shelly Short
7th District Representative (R)
360-786-7908
short.shelly@leg.wa.gov
Larry Crouse
4th District Representative (R)
360-786-7820
crouse.larry@leg.wa.gov
Mark Schoesler
9th District Senator (R)
360-786-7620/509-659-1774
schoesler.mark@leg.wa.gov
Matt Shea
4th District Representative (R)
360-786-7984
shea.matt@leg.wa.gov
Susan Fagan
9th District Representative (R)
360) 786-7942
fagan.susan@leg.wa.gov
Michael Baumgartner
6th District Senator (R)
baumgartner.michael@leg.wa.govJoe Schmick
9th District Representative (R)
360-786-7844
schmick.joe@leg.wa.gov
John Ahern
6th District Representative (R)
ahern.john@leg.wa.govChristine Gregoire
Washington State Governor
PO Box 40002
Olympia, WA 98504-0002
360-902-4111/509-329-2882Federal Elected Officials/County Commissioners
Maria Cantwell
U.S. Senator (D)
Spokane: 509-353-2507
Washington DC: 202-224-3441
maria_cantwell@cantwell.senate.gov
Office of the Spokane County Board of Commissioners
1116 West Broadway Avenue
Spokane, WA 99260
509-477-2265
Patty Murray
U.S. Senator (D)
Spokane: 509-624-9515
Washington DC: 202-224-2621
senator_murray@murray.senate.govAl French
District 3 Commissioner
afrench@spokanecounty.orgTodd Mielke
District 1 Commissioner
tmielke@spokanecounty.org
Cathy McMorris Rodgers
U.S. House of Representatives (R)
Spokane: 509-353-2374
Washington DC: 202-225-2006
www.mcmorrisrodgers.house.govMark Richard
District 2 Commissioner
mrichard@spokanecounty.org
Spokane City Council
808 W Spokane Falls Blvd
Joe Shogan, Amber Waldref, Bob Apple, Jon Snyder,
Richard Rush, Steve Corker, Nancy McLaughlin
Spokane, WA 99201
509 625-6255
MAYORS
Mayor Patrick D. Rushing
City of Airway Heights
1208 South Lundstrom, PO Box 969
Airway Heights, WA 99001-0969
509-244-3413
www.cawh.orgMayor Tom Trulove
City of Cheney
609 Second Street
Cheney, WA 99004
509-498-9200
www.cityofcheney.orgMayor Wendy Van Orman
City of Liberty Lake
22710 East Country Vista Drive
Liberty Lake, WA 99019
509-755-6701
www.libertylakewa.gov
Mayor John Higgins
City of Medical Lake
PO Box 369
Medical Lake, WA 99022
509-565-5000
www.medical-lake.orgMayor Mary Verner
City of Spokane
808 West Spokane Falls Boulevard
Spokane, WA 99201
509-625-6250
www.spokanecity.orgMayor Tom Towey
City of Spokane Valley
11707 E Sprague Ave, Suite 106
Spokane Valley, WA 99206
509-688-0180
www.spokanevalley.org
