SECCA curator David Brown jumps from one money pit to another, just two months after the state took over Winston-Salem’s “financially troubled” arts institution.
Brown’s leaving to become deputy director of art at the Art Museum of Western Virginia, which is moving into new digs in 2008:
“It’s spectacular,” Brown said. “I’m at the ground stages of developing this brand new program for the museum,” Brown said. “That is just very exciting.”
The project, including building, land acquisition, architect, consultant fees and other expenses, cost $66 million, Templeton said
Note, by the way, that the $66 million cost is double the original estimated cost of $30-$35 million.
Meanwhile, the N&R editorializes on the importance of the arts to the local economy, as outlined by a recent study by Americans for the Arts.
The editorial repeats the study’s catch phrase:
In Guilford County, the study, which limits its focus to nonprofit arts providers, shows the arts generate $30.7 million annually and support nearly 1,100 full-time equivalent jobs. In Forsyth County, home to more nonprofit arts groups along with the N.C. School of the Arts, the impact more than triples. The arts have a $103.8 million impact there, supporting nearly 3,800 full-time equivalent jobs, according to the study, the largest ever by the Washington-based group. Three other N.C. counties, Buncombe, Wake and Mecklenburg, also took part in the study.
I’m not exactly sure what ‘full-time equivalent jobs’ means.
