Authorizing the Mayor to submit to the Institute of Museum Services a grant application for general operating support monies for Discovery Hall

Home Browse Search

VII. Community Commitment How committed to the museum are its users and supporters? Does the museum have a substantial base of non - Federal support? In the answer, the applicant should describe the volunteer resources and con- tributed services that the museum receives from the community and indicate how this base of support reflects a commitment to the museum's purpose and programs. The applicant should also describe the base of financial support that the museum receives from the community (e.g., membership, admissions, private and corporate donations, and non - Federal tax monies) and indicate to what extent this support is stable, broad - based, and indicative of community commitment to the museum. The City of South Bend has made an important commitment to Discovery Hall by placing it in Century Center, the City's new (1977) Arts /Convention Center designed by Philip Johnson and John Burgee. The largest part of the museum's annual operating budget comes from an appropriation by the Common Council. In 1979 the Council made a special appropriation of $179,000 to build the museum's permanent exhibits. Over 20,000 people visited Discovery Hall in 1979 and we anticipate that this number will increase dramatically with the installation of the permanent exhibits later this year. Admission fees directly support the museum operation and as the number of admissions grow, thiq hecomes a source of larger revenues. In the little over two yPrirs since Discovery Hall has opened other community support has come from a number of sources. Discovery Hall Associates, a not - for - profit corporation has been formed to build a base of membership support for the museum. This group has had in addition to individual and family members, a growing number of business members each year. In addition individual local businesses and corporations have pro - vided support such as donations and /or restoration of artifacts related to their com- pany, shipping of the Studebaker archives from Syracuse, NY to South Bend, and spon- soring special exhibits. I I The Studebaker Driver's Club, a national organization with a strong base in the t South Bend area has raised about $20,000 for a restoration fund for the museum. I I Almost all of the museum's collections have been donations from individuals or i t companies, the largest being the Studebaker Historic Vehicle Collection which was i i given by the Studebaker Corporation. Those artifacts not donated were purchased with �- I funds raised by Discovery Hall Associates, the museum's not - for - profit fund raising I I membership group. (May be continued on following page) 23