Membership, attendance and giving are up - way up - from previous years. Innovative new shows, some of which could never have visited the MAM prior to the building project, are up on the walls. But there's still the looming question of that nearly $400,000 from the National Park Service - money that was promised but never given and that now seems hardly a sure thing.
“It is an awkward and difficult situation regarding that funding, but we've been really buoyed by the support we have and the progress that's being made,” said Laura Millin, executive director of the MAM. “It certainly hasn't shaken our conviction and belief in the success of our project as we celebrate this anniversary.”
In interviews in August, the assistant director of the Park Service's Heritage Preservation Assistance Program, Jon Smith, asserted that the MAM “ripped out” historical elements of the old Carnegie library building during its renovation; as a result, the federal agency decided to deny the promised funds.
Currently, the MAM is working with the support of government officials at the city, state and federal level to appeal the National Parks Service decision.
“The state (of Montana) requested the National Park Service to seek consultation with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation to help resolve this matter,” Millin explained, noting that she isn't sure how long that negotiation will take. “I'm not experienced with this particular process so we're relying on our government leaders to help us work through it; fortunately, they've been incredibly supportive.”
And now the good news: The MAM is open today, and the public's response to the $5.3 million facelift has been remarkably positive.
“I feel like the community has been overwhelmingly supportive of us through this first year and in the face of this challenge,” said Nici Holt, the MAM's membership director. “Everybody locally who has voiced an opinion has asked how they can help, who they can write a letter to, and that's been really encouraging. We're still waiting to see how it pans out, but it's been nice to see the support of the community.”
To be sure, that support began long before the funding dispute became public knowledge. It began, indeed, the moment doors opened last September.
This past week, the MAM finalized its annual report, which tracks data for the institution on an annual basis, with the fiscal year running July 1 to June 30. The report showed milestones for the museum in almost every area.
For example, in the first nine and a half months that the MAM was open in its new digs, some 31,500 people walked through the doors of the building. Before the expansion and renovation, annual visitor numbers averaged barely two-thirds that total, noted Millin.
Other high points were set as well. The number of dues-paying members topped 1,000 for the first time ever. The MAM's annual art auction, held in February, shattered all previous records, bringing in some $220,000. Even the museum's Web site set new marks, more than doubling previous annual traffic marks.
“It's been an amazing year,” said Holt. “It's very impressive how many dedicated folks we have volunteering their time for the museum; and how much the community has responded in both a financial sense and just in terms of attendance.”
That's something to celebrate indeed.
Entertainer editor Joe Nickell can be reached at 523-5358 or at jnickell@missoulian.com.
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