Brass band museum still a possibility

By ANNABEL GIRARD
Staff Writer 

The major donation may not be there, but hopes are still alive that a band museum one day will be at the corner of Main and Fourth streets in what was a former post office.
A consultant should be working by the end of June on a feasibility study that will evaluate the building for use as a museum, but also look at alternative uses. The study will be paid for with a $25,000 state grant awarded in August 2000.
Three out of 11 companies that submitted proposals were selected to make a presentation June 6: Studiomarc International, which has an office in Danville and in Orlando, Fla.; Tate Hill Jacobs Architect of Lexington; and Joseph and Joseph Architects of Louisville.
The city of Danville acquired the building from the Department of the Interior when it was declared surplus after the retirement of the federal judge whose office was in the building. The use of the building is restricted to recreational uses, which includes a museum. If some other use is made of the building, Danville will have to ask the Department of the Interior to change the conditions.
Plans have moved slowly since the city gained control of the building in 1998. At the moment, the city has agreed to keep the building available for a band museum through June 30; that agreement could be extended.
"We have received no formal request," said City Manager Steve Biven.
Other than providing the building, Danville will have a limited role with the museum. A foundation would be established to run the museum and raise funds needed to renovate and operate it, as well as oversee design, planning and renovation.
Centre College has expressed an interest in having students work at the museum as part of the college's work-study program.
For now, the city is maintaining the building and has allowed other groups to use the facility on an interim basis, including Arts for Kids, a local children's theater group.
A key factor in the development of the museum is finding the money, not only to renovate the building but to cover on-going operating expenses. No major donor has been found.
John Roush, president of Centre College, said at one time there was a benefactor seriously considering donating to the museum.
"That came apart," Roush said. "Now it's open-ended."
While Centre will not play an active role in the museum, Roush is supportive. "It would be a really neat addition."
And at least one Centre person would have a connection to the museum. "The real genius behind the museum is George Foreman and he works for us full time," Roush said.
Foreman is director of the Norton Center for the Arts at the college.