State funding for the Bishop Museum - Legislative Reference Bureau

STATE FUNDING FOR THE BISHOP MUSEUM
operations, whereas as a private nonprofit institution, a museum can make its
own policies and decisions with a minimum of outside interference.
Field Museum of Natural History." The best source of support for the
Museum has been the Chicago park district tax support. Because it is
perceived necessary to broaden the Museum's tax base, the Museum is in the
process of examining greater county, state, and federal support.
Museums supported by government are affected by government budget
cuts, and it is necessary for museums to effectively lobby. Often, state
legislatures and municipal and county governments follow the federal lead in
budget cuts.
A government museum does have regular support for research and
collection purposes, unlike this Museum, which is a free-standing research
institute. However, its advantage is autonomy. It is difficult to depend on a
government partnership and not get caught in a political affair on occasion.
Rochester Museum and Science Center." The most desirable financial
arrangement is a combination of public and private funding where federal,
state, and local governments contribute 50 per cent to the museum's finances
and the private sector contributes the other half.
An advantage of regular government support is that it allows consistency
for planning purposes.
It is better not to be a government museum because control would then
move from persons with proper training to political appointees.
The Smithsonian Instit~tion.'~ The advantages of the Smithsonian's
partnership with government are overwhelming. The federal government is
very supportive of the Smithsonian's work and provides funds for the core
support of the programs, while the trust funds provide for flexibility and
program enhancement. The Board of Regents, on behalf of the American