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cultural advances almost since the Institutions' establishment. Government interest in support of the national basic research enterprise may never again reach the levels recorded in the 1950s and 1960s, simply because of limited resources for higher educational institutions, research laboratories, and establishments such as the Smithsonian. Nevertheless, the federal government cannot neglect basic research, and must continue to support and stimulate through the grant and contract mechanisms quality investigations into selected areas. The Institution has distinguished itself in various basic research disciples, and intends to continue to do so over the long run, partially through sustained grant and contract work received from the federal government, as well as its other sources of funding.

[[underline]] Foreign Currency Program [[/underline]]

The Smithsonian has conducted programs with excess foreign currency funds since 1965. Foreign currency projects, consisting of grants to American institutions of higher learning, including the Smithsonian itself, museum professional exchanges, and occasional restoration projects of international importance such as the Temple of Philae in Egypt, have occurred in most of the excess currency countries. The results have been amply reflected in publications, conference presentations, and exhibits, and in sustained scholarship relationships. The countries where excess currency projects could be funded were eleven, and are now reduced to five. Opportunities may be limited over the longer run if present excess currencies and countries diminish even further. While the international context changes periodically, the Smithsonian expects its program to remain active as long as currencies are available. By forward funding certain high-priority efforts, it is expected that activities will continue forward beyond the period when countries are no longer on the excess list.

[[underline]] Buildings and Facilities [[/underline]]

At the end of FY 1982, the Smithsonian occupied approximately 4,200,000 square feet of building space, owned or leased, for all purposes in facilities located in Washington and elsewhere. By FY 1988, with the projected completion of the first building at the Museum Support Center in FY 1983, the occupation of the planned Quadrangle facility by FY 1986, and the essential completion of facility work for the Zoological Park in Rock Creek and at the Front Royal Conservation Center, space occupied by the Institution will approximate 4,900,000 square feet. By FY 1995, if the Institution continues to be successful in planning and accommodating its major space objectives, space available might approach 5,200,000 square feet. Implicit to the projections beyond FY 1988 are the following general institutional objectives: