Viewing page 158 of 242
This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.
-35- revitalize exhibits (especially at the Museum of History and Technology) and to permit more joint exhibition activity between History and Art museums has become evident. The Smithsonian's FY 1981 budget requests a total of $1,000,000 to begin upgrading various exhibition areas. [[underlined]]Trade Commission Building.[[/underlined]] Located directly across F Street from the Fine Arts and Portrait Galleries Building, the Tariff (Trade) Commission Building is a superb historical structure worthy of restoration for public use. This building represents, for the Smithsonian, an ideal solution to space problems experienced increasingly by the Collection of Fine Arts, the Portrait Gallery, the Archives of American Art, and the library, archival, and study collections of these activities. It could also provide needed space for public exhibitions, lectures, and classes. The prospects of acquiring, restoring and using this historic building are difficult to predict. A new home will have to be found for the U.S. International Trade Commission, the building's principal tenant, and substantial appropriations, on the order of $15,000,000, would be necessary for its rehabilitation. In cooperation with the General Services Administration, the Smithsonian expects to continue working toward these ends. [[underlined]]Other Programs.[[/underlined]] Other priorities within History and Art through FY 1985 are largely related to improved physical facilities. federal funding for completion of Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden improvements to accommodate the handicapped is essential. Enclosure of the Freer Gallery of Art's courtyard would also do much to capture valuable additional public space. Construction of viable office and work space in the garage of the Fine Arts and Portrait Galleries Building as well as the balcony areas may also be necessary. Efforts to raise private funds for the development of the South Quadrangle, which will benefit both the Museum of African Art and the Freer Gallery of Art, will continue as will exploration for donors to support renovation of the Miller House. The latter adjoins the Carnegie Mansion and is part of the Cooper-Hewitt Museum in New York. Its renovation is essential for full use of the Cooper-Hewitt collections. The development of adequate storage space and needed galleries for temporary exhibitions at the Cooper-Hewitt as well as expanded educational facilities and office space is projected. These various renovation efforts represent by far the largest need for new funding on the part of History and Art bureaus of the Smithsonian. Progress on all of these facility requirements is expected by FY 1985. Additional information is contained in the facilities chapter of this document. Significant adjustments (approximately 3 percent of the total History and Art federal appropriation for FY 1979 and a further 1 percent for FY 1980) were provided in the Institution's budgets in order to begin moving toward the collection management and conservation needs of the Museum of History and Technology and the exhibition requirements of
