Look Ahead: Florence Museum looks toward more resources, greater progress in 2009

Florence County and city councils, as well as individuals associated closely with the Florence Museum, look toward 2009 for a solidification of many of the decisions made this year.

The year 2008 marked many steps made toward improvement of museum resources and construction of a new museum building.

The potential purchase of property at the corner of South Dargan and Cheves streets for $200,000 and the $3.9 million grant obtained by state Sen. Hugh Leatherman both will aid in the funding of a new museum building.

“The city of Florence has agreed to give the county a six-month option to purchase a little over one acre of land at the corner of Dargan and Cheves streets for the construction of a new museum,” Florence County Councilman James Schofield said.

The prospective location of the Florence Museum of Arts, Science and History would be across the street from the Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center, which is scheduled to begin construction this January and reach completion in September 2010.

The Florence Museum of Arts, Science and History, because of its location in the downtown area, would be an anchor for drawing crowds and businesses into downtown Florence. Other anchors include the FMU Performing Arts Center, Drs. Bruce & Lee Foundation Library and Florence Little Theatre.

Schofield said avenues already have been sought for raising revenue for the Florence Museum as well as the Lake City National Bean Market Museum.

“Florence County has instituted a hospitality tax in the unincorporated areas of Florence County to provide recurring revenues for the Florence Museum and the Lake City Bean Museum,” he said.

The $3.9 million grant obtained by Leatherman toward the construction of a new museum is a 2-for-1 grant, which means it’s only a viable grant if two other organizations commit $3.9 million.

The Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation, Schofield said, “has agreed to fund one part of the two-for-one state of South Carolina match under certain conditions specified in their commitment to Florence County Council.

“The issue now is where the county will get the remaining part of the match,” he said. “Whether that be from recurring revenues from the hospitality tax, grants from other foundations or public entities, bonds or existing funds or a combination of all of them.”

With the January meeting of county council looming around the corner, Florence County Administrator Richard Starks said no agenda was set for the meeting as of yet.

“It is impossible to say at this time whether actions relating to the museum will be under consideration at that meeting,” he said.

Florence County Council Chairman K.G. Rusty Smith said the county’s discussion regarding the museum “is an ongoing process that will be decided next year.”

Another big announcement for the museum was the converting of the Florence County Cultural Commission into the Florence County Museum Board at a Nov. 20 Florence County Council meeting.

Starks said the change was necessary as the “original commission structure envisioned significant state funding related to tourism, but no such funding was appropriated by the state, and no significant new funding is expected in the near future. The tasking of the commission (now board) is focused more on the museums’ missions, and the board’s membership was expanded slightly to reflect concentration on those missions.

The Florence County Museum Board and the Florence Museum Board of Trustees will remain separate entities.

Although there might be a bit confusion with that change, Florence Museum Executive Director Andrew Stout said, “the Florence Museum will continue to exist as a nonprofit corporation and it will be governed by its Board of Trustees, who will retain ownership of the collection, which will be leased to Florence County for the new museum facility. The trustees will also assist the Florence County Museum Board with fundraising efforts to construct a new facility.”

What’s next?

Florence County Councilman James Schofield said he hopes that come January, progress will continue on the Florence Museum of Arts, Science and History so that planning and design will begin for a new building in downtown Florence.

“Expanded partnership and funding opportunities that could wrap up primary funding challenges to secure full funding, moving to retain a director,” Florence County Administrator Richard Starks said. “Once all of these formative steps are complete, activity on both the Florence and Lake City museums should accelerate quickly.”

Florence Museum Executive Director Andrew Stout said he expects to work closely with the Florence County Museum Board, along with the Florence Museum Trustees, to help secure state funding for the project in 2009.

“I also expect to explore any other funding sources available to construct a museum facility worthy of our collections,” he said.