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President Lisa called the meeting to order just a few minutes early since we had a full agenda and tours ahead of us. She welcomed us to our very first “Broad-ary” meeting. (We were meeting at the Eli and Edythe Broad, pronounced like “road,” Art Museum at Michigan State University.) Sue Mills delivered an invocation that focused on art and artists. Ken Beachler led us in an acapella rendition of our patriotic song. Dave Trumpie delivered the microphone for introductions of guests and visiting Rotarians. There was no Remembrance Committee report. Tobi Lyon Moore let us know that there’s a need for a few people with basic woodcutting skills for work on our Rotary float for the Silver Bells in the City parade.
President Lisa thanked Colin Maguire for his excellent work as Program Chair of the Month, securing speakers for our October meetings. She also reminded us to “fall back” on our clocks one hour at midnight Saturday. Jenn Dubey gave the International Committee report urging Rotarians to nominate international projects for grants from our club. The deadline has been extended because we need more nominations for this excellent opportunity. If you have a project you can get it to Jenn or to Umakan.
Barb Lezotte introduced our speakers for the day. She kept her introduction short so both speakers would have plenty of time to share their stories. Our first speaker was Bill Matt, Deputy Director of Administration and Operations at the Broad Art Museum. (I should mention that my husband, Charles, and I have been big fans of the museum since it opened.) The Broad Museum opened in November, 2012. The building by award winning architect Zaha Hadid is 46 thousand square feet. 70% of the space is dedicated to exhibitions, which is unusual in art museums. Broad staff and storage are in three locations on campus because of this.
The Museum got an average of 60,000 visitors a year in the three years since it has been open. There are 25 full-time and temporary employees in addition to the student employees who serve as gallery guides, work the information desk, and help with exhibits. (Bill didn’t mention it but the museum changes its exhibits as often as every three months so the staging and breaking down of exhibits is a major undertaking.) Bill said the Museum is currently in “evaluation, adjusting, emphasizing core processes” mode. The Broad reaches into the community with activities, visiting artists, and communications about art, artists, and culture. They hold receptions, lectures, panel discussions and their very successful series events. An example was this fall’s “Art of the Brew.” Think programs on beer and programs on coffee.
The Broad has a $3.2 million yearly operating budget. 65% of that is salaries and labor costs. There is a $9.5 million endowment. The facility is available to rent to individuals and corporations. (Lansing Rotary’s meeting was in the light-filled education wing. There are both larger and smaller rooms that can be rented.) The museum staff likes people to go from being a visitor, to being a member, to being a donor.
The Broad Museum is currently in the middle of a search for a new director after the passing of their renowned and beloved founding director, Michael Rush. The Broad has two boards. The Regional Advisory Board is chaired by Lansing Rotary’s own Jack Davis. The International Advisory Board works to connect the Broad to collectors and artists around the world.
Bill Matt told us that his job is to “keep the lights on” and our second speaker, Caitlin - pronounced “Cat-leen”- Doherty’s job is to “fill the building with art.” Caitlin, our second speaker of the day is Curator and Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs. She told us “Exhibitions can’t exist in a vacuum. Art plus the public plus programs leads to magic.”
There are 7,500 pieces in the museum’s historic collection. They include things some people want to see over and over again. These include art from Greek and Roman times to the present. Sometimes artists who exhibit at the Broad end up having their art become part of the museum’s collection. The current exhibit, “Moving Time,” is the history of 50 years of video art, looking at it as art. The Broad is the only place in the world that has done this. The exhibit has been written about in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Washington Times, and many international art publications. This exhibit will go next to Beijing after its run at the Broad. The Broad Museum receives exhibits from around the world and Broad exhibits are shown around the world, like “Moving Time” will be.
Caitlin told us that the Broad Museum is planning a tour of Ireland in the spring of 2016 and she will lead it. The tour will see several key points around Ireland featuring several kinds of cultural and art venues. Contact Caitlin if you are interested.
Just this week the Broad hosted 600 trick-or-treaters who were taking part in the East Lansing Halloween celebration. The black spiders and webs were still on the expansive Education Wing’s windows from that event. The Museum holds “Family Days” each month as well as high-end events for regional and international art communities.
President Lisa thanks the Broad Museum for hosting Lansing Rotary and gave a Rotary Coin to the speakers. She also told them that in lieu of a speaker’s gift we would be making a donation to the Bio Sand Filter project to provide pure water in under-developed countries. Lansing Rotary’s next meeting will be at the Lansing Country Club on November 6th. Valerie Marvin from the Greater Lansing Historical Society will be our speaker. Our meeting was adjourned so members and guests could tour and enjoy the beautiful building.
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Valerie R. Marvin is honored to serve as the Michigan Capitol Historian and the President of the Historical Society of Greater Lansing.