Viewing page 63 of 320

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

Acquisition of Original Corcoran Gallery of Art Building (Old Court of Claims Building) from General Services Administration for Art Gallery Purposes

The Secretary reported that the Old Court of Claims building at 17th and Pennsylvania Avenue, diagonally across from the White House, was originally the Corcoran Gallery of Art. The building is scheduled to be renovated by the General Services Administration as a part of the GSA project to restore the old buildings facing the White House and Jackson Park and to erect a new Executive Offices Building.

There is interest in the White House having the Smithsonian undertake to create a Museum of the Arts in this old gallery building. The General Services Administration is tentatively inclined to transfer the building to the Smithsonian for museum purposes, if the Regents shoud request it, as the most appropriate utilization possible for this small and specialized building.

The Bureau of the Budget has advised that the General Services Administration has most of the funds required to restore the building to first-class condition and to air-condition it. Additional funds might be required on the part of the Smithsonian to make the remodeled building entirely suitable for art gallery purposes. It is estimated that first-year appropriations would be necessary as follows:

Curatorial staff and initial installation of exhibits $ 190,000

Operation and maintenance $153,000

The Secretary suggested he be authorized to continue negotiations with the White House and with the General Services Administration. If the present favorable circumstances develop into a proposal for the transfer of the building to the Smithsonian by the General Services Administraion, he also recommended that the Executive Committee be authorized either to accept the building for use as a Museum of the Arts or to decline the offer.