Viewing page 207 of 267

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

-67-

in the transfer of that Museum's collection to the Smithsonian.  NO funds are being sought in FY 1982, but should a transfer come about, early estimates suggest that the costs of moving the collection to Washington might be in the neighborhood of $2,000,000.  Equipment to store it properly in the Smithsonian's Suitland Museum Support Center would run about $2,400,000.  To provide continuing collection care, management and conservation activities would be around $500,000 per year.  These early estimates are contained in the table projections for this chapter, but are subject to substantial revision as more information becomes available.  Transportation costs are factored into FY 1983 at $1,000,000 pending further refinement.  This project may prove to be a very welcome opportunity to create a unified collection of Native American materials unparalleled anywhere in the world, greatly enhancing the Smithsonian's ability to relate the history and culture of Native Americans to all our citizens.

[[underlined]] Major Collections Acquisition Fund. [[/underlined]]  It is scarcely necessary today to dwell at great length about the pace at which art prices have been rising.  The recent sales of a Turner painting for $7,000,000 and of a Van Gogh for $5,000,000 suffice to make the point; sales of individual works for $1,000,000 or $2,000,000, which used to be front-page news, no longer even elicit much comment.  The Smithsonian has in its federal base appropriation about $800,000 allocated to its numerous museums to purchase art and other important collection pieces for the National Collections.  Recognizing the need to become more competitive with the contemporary situation, the Regents approved the establishment of the trust-funded Collections Acquisition, Scholarly studies, and Education Program in FY 1978, to supplement the Institution's federal acquisitions base.  Collections acquisition trust allocations amount to about $1,000,000 per year.  The Institution will continue energetically to solicit donations of important collections, art works, and artifacts, but even with these efforts, and the federal and trust support currently available, its museums are in a far less than advantageous position compared to the leading private museums in this country and the national museums abroad.

Consequently, in FY 1982 the Smithsonian is seeking to establish through the appropriations process a new, centrally administered major acquisition fund of $10,000,000 in its initial year of operation to remain available until expended.  It is planned that the fund would be replenished as it is used from year-to-year, with about $5,000,000 representing the average replenishment request beyond FY 1982.

The fund will benefit not so much the Smithsonian as the millions of visitors today, and in future generations, who come from all sections of the nation to view [[underlined]] their [[/underlined]] heritage contained in the national museums.  The Institution will not shirk its responsibilities to the citizens of this country with regard to acquiring important items for the National Collections, but will need a much greater commitment from the federal government.

[[underlined]] Photocopy Equipment Purchase. [[/underlined]]  In FY 1982, a one-time purchase of photocopying equipment is planned.  A request is contained in the budget submission to the Office of Management and Budget for this, but the funds do not affect resource projections  for future years FY 1982-86.  Approximately 70 percent of the copying machines in use at the Institution are leased.  This FY 1982 request, which results from a recommendation of the internal audit staff, over time would effect significant cost savings (estimated at approximately $960,000) through the purchase and improved management of the equipment.