After tri-county voters in the election yesterday, the Detroit Insititue of Arts wants to make sure that residents get their money's worth.
“When we announced that we would seek the millage, we pledged that if it were to pass we would provide free admission to residents of all three counties. We are immediately following through on that pledge," said Graham W. J. Beal, DIA director, in a press release.
Tri-county voters approved a tax of 0.2 mills for the next 10 years to fund the arts authority, so admission is now free to residents of Oakland, Wayne and Macomb county residents.
Here are some of the special exhibits that residents can see:
A painting by Johannes Vermeer on loan from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. will be on display through Sept. 2. The painting, Woman Holding a Balance, is on view in the Dutch galleries, and the museum wants people to take advantage of the rare opportunity to see a Vermeer painting, as there are only 11 in U.S. museums and 35 in the world.
Two other current exhibitions also can be accessed through the free admission. Five Spanish Masterpieces features loans of paintings by Salvador Dalí, El Greco, Francisco de Goya and Diego Velázquez, along with the DIA’s celebrated Melancholy Woman by Pablo Picasso. Picasso and Matisse: The DIA’s Prints and Drawings showcases almost all the DIA’s works by these two great modern artists.
Museum hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Detoit is the most talented city in the world. The DIA is part of it! So heres to the designers, mold makers, artists,musicians, singers, finger painters etc. that make us proud.
If not, we should bail out every Main St. in Michigan and every small Mom and Pop or Independent business--heck, we did it for the DIA, we should just continue with the same thought process the govt used when in their infinite stupidity, they even allowed this on the ballot---and lets not stop there--lets get every big business with poor management too--stock holders be damned--lets bail out Sears, Kmart, JC Penny--same thing as the DIA--serves only those who choose it, and does not provide essential services---lets add some others to and continue on this slippery slope until we bankrupt every working person left in Michigan--I can see the RIP now, the Taxpayers, and the two biggest employers in the State of MI, the govt and the DIA with a Diretor, Mr. Beal taking in over $443,000.00 annually.
so much easier then actually getting out there and doing what they are suppose to--
How old is Mr. Beal anyway?? I bet he just scored a "coup" with some heavy hitters who are patrons of the art and due to the economy can not afford the same yearly contributions to feather his little nest, so to keep them happy and able to enjoy this amenity he went outside the circle to the taxpayers to ensure his friends can still enjoy the DIA and ensure them by taxation they are pretty well guaranteed this-no questions asked and no voice in management. He doesn't have to embarrass them by asking for donations--He got a revenue stream guaranteed. The "rich" are also feeling the pinch, only at a more "up scale" level then the working class--Imagine the resident making $17.00 hr. before Fed, State, SS#, Health Care, etc. imagine how he feels working a couple of extra hours to feather the nest of the DIA for a few people whose interest is the arts and to help offset the $443,000.00 salary of the Director? We are really one screwed up over taxed Sate and County--time for change.
In this case, I do know that many little kids in Detroit use the park as they have no where else to go, so it does appeal to and is used by a heck of a lot more people than the DIA--But then to keep the park safe-you have to get rid of the vandalism, gangs, drugs, etc. which is a problem on Belle Isle. You are so right Brian, I think there is a "laundry list" coming our way from Detroit.
I for one would welcome the DNR, State Park system take it over, when is the last time youv been in a bad state park? have you been to the new one, down atwater,st. towards the river walk.......... pretty nice and they have maintained it also...... yep as a long time camper, I don't know why this as not been done already.
If you have a home in Berkley with with a taxable value of $150,000, then you have either a gigantic house, a house you way over paid for, or a serious error on your property tax statement. The average Berkley homeowner will be paying a lot less than $15 per year. If that small amount of money is likely to put you on the street, then you have problems a lot bigger than an tiny millage increase.
And they wonder why people leave Michigan--it's taxation, poor management and jobs.
If an emergency manager decided that this was the only option to save the DIA and by executive fiat decreed that the three counties would have to increase tax rates by 0.2 mils, well then your argument would make sense, and I would agree with you. But, as you know, 63% of Oakland County residents decided to vote for the increase. The democratic process worked. How you can see this any other way is beyond puzzling.
I use to support the DIA, that was voluntary-but now forced through taxation-no way- $443,000.00 a year in salary for one man alone is too much to stomach in these economic times.