Art museum director wants to create cultural plaza
by Teya Vitu on Jul. 10, 2007, under LocalTucson Museum of Art officials want to create an El Presidio Cultural Plaza stretching from the museum to the Joel D. Valdez Main Library.
The plan would include converting at least part of the old Pima County Courthouse into exhibition space. It would also include redesigning El Presidio Plaza to be a user-friendly sculpture garden ideal for stages and “food opportunities,” said Robert Knight, the museum’s executive director.
The idea came about more than a year ago, but now Knight is promoting an expansion plan he hopes will find support. He will present it to the City Council’s Rio Nuevo subcommittee on Thursday.
“We’re just in an exploratory mode,” Knight said. “This is what we’ve been thinking. Does this jibe with what you’re thinking?”
The City Council has control of El Presidio Plaza, an expanse of concrete studded with statues and fountains and surrounded by city and county buildings.
County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry oversees the courthouse, built in 1928, which houses the county assessor and recorder offices.
“It’s really dependent on the new courthouse,” Huckelberry said. “That’s probably still three years away.”
Huckelberry and Knight both think the art museum could use the northern third of the courthouse. Knight would move the TMA’s Western and American Indian collections into the building.
Knight estimates renovating the courthouse and its enclosed plaza would cost $10 million. There are no cost estimates for El Presidio Plaza, nor are there any architectural drawings for any part of the expansion.
Knight has presented the idea to the county’s bond advisory committee to see if bond money could fund some of the project.
“This could be really exciting if everybody agrees it’s exciting,” Knight said.
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IF YOU GO
What: City Council’s Rio Nuevo subcommittee meeting
When: 5 p.m. Thursday
Where: Council Chambers, 255 W. Alameda St.
Details: 791-4700
