McCollum Remarks at Breaking Ground of The M's Major Expansion
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) joined community members Wednesday, May 31 for the Breaking Ground of a major expansion of The Minnesota Museum of American Art — "The M" — in downtown St. Paul's historic Pioneer Endicott building.
The $12.5 million development project will begin this summer and expand the museum's public space to more than 20,000 square feet, according to Wednesday's announcement. The M's gallery currently occupies the corner of the Pioneer building at Fourth and Robert streets. The new M will open in spring 2018 and include a state-of-the-art gallery, community gathering spaces and a sculpture court with a "sky bridge" overhead that extends the skyway over Robert Street into the M.
Congresswoman McCollum delivered the following remarks at the event:
Good afternoon. I am honored to be here today and I want to thank Trustee Jim Rustad and Executive Director Kristin Makholm for the invitation to join you.
First, let me say "thank you" to everyone here today. By supporting "the M" you are supporting a St. Paul treasure. To have an accessible, energized art museum in downtown St. Paul is a tremendous asset to our city and a resource that benefits all Minnesotans.
This week Congress is in recess and I could not be happier to be in St. Paul. The level of discourse and debate in Washington is deteriorating by the day, which is discouraging and painful. Still, I have a job to do and that job is to represent the nearly 700,000 people of Ramsey and Washington counties I work for. And, let me tell you, I represent one of be best congressional districts in America because my constituents believe in shared responsibility, the common good, and in community. Our community is caring, compassionate, and creative which demands active, engaged citizens. This is what makes the Twin Cities a great place to live.
But, that could change. President Trump has proposed in his 2018 federal budget eliminating funding for more than 70 federal programs. Combined, these programs serve rich and poor, young and old, all races, religions and sexual orientations. These programs help keep communities whole, strong and successful. Communities can't remain whole when funding for education, environmental protection, healthcare, transit, housing, help for the vulnerable and investments in the arts, the humanities, libraries and museums, arts education, and public broadcasting are all eliminated! The White House wants these programs cut to pay tax cuts and a massive increase in military spending – an increase of more than $50 billion. We can't address the challenges facing our country or the needs of our families with tax cuts and more bombs and bullets.
We need creative, dynamic citizens who can think, dialogue, analyze, and solve problems, and work together to build a better, strong America. And, just as we need housing, healthcare, and good schools – we need the arts, the humanities, and a creative economy that can drive innovation. We can have clean air and water, quality healthcare, great museums, and after-school programs – they are all important.
Yesterday, I participated in a public hearing hosted by Minnesota Citizens for the Arts where I heard from more than a dozen artists and community leaders advocating for on-going support for the federal cultural agencies. It was important and powerful testimony. Thank you, MCA and Sheila Smith, for the leadership and advocacy.
I believe that our federal government has duty to support creativity, education, information, and an intelligent dialogue among citizens that nourishes the minds, bodies and souls of the American people. Funding the NEA, the NEH, arts education, and the Institute for Museum and Library services are modest, but smart investments that strengthen communities and engage citizens.
Unfortunately, this administration is not interested in nourishing creativity or even nourishing people physiologically, since they also want to cut food assistance for low-income seniors, children and families. Access to the arts is not a luxury. The arts belong to everyone.
Art is an essential part of the human experience and I want every child, every senior, every family, every Minnesotan to have access to the arts. The creative community here in St. Paul, throughout the Twin Cities, and across our state is a thriving, energized, and job creating sector of our society.
The Minnesota Museum of American Art is part of this artistic landscape and ecosystem of education, exploration, and citizen engagement. The "M's" presence in St. Paul is a signature statement that complements our city's exploding arts scene – from Lowertown to Vandalia, from the Schmidt Artist Lofts to the Creative Enterprise zone, we live in a city where making art, living with art, and experiencing art is essential, not optional.
So, for me, the "M" is a destination, an experience, and an anchor of our city's art scene. As our city continues to become more diverse, more engaged culturally, ethnically, and socially – the idea of "American" art will evolve and transform. Which puts the "M" at the epicenter of a creative transformation that will reshape our city, our state and our country for the better.
Thank you for inviting me to join you here today. I wish the "M" much continued success and you have my commitment to continue to fight to make creativity essential to a strong community and art for all essential to active, engaged citizens. Thank you.