To the Editor of The Advocate - November 24, 2004
Because the current controversy over
extending the town waterline has raised many questions (and rumors) about the
Williamstown Art Conservation Center, we felt it time to clarify the center’s
role: WACC’s mission and function, our relationship with the Clark Art
Institute, and our role in the Clark’s current expansion plans.
A recent letter in
The Advocate suggested that although legally a non-profit business, WACC does
not necessarily seve as an educational facility. This is a misunderstanding of
our mission.
WACC’s non-profit
status is granted because over the past 27 years, our organization has provided
cutting-edge, museum-quality conservation services to a hundred or more small
museums and historic houses throughout New England and the East Coat, at
break-even cost and with a great deal of pro bono work. Our services are sorely
needed by many educational institutions that cannot afford to maintain expensive
art laboratories on their own. Our
technical support for these institutions may not be instantly apparent to the
townspeople; nevertheless it contributes to the larger educational, cultural
and economic strength of Williamstown and the surrounding region.
Additionally, WACC
offers undergraduate and graduate-level courses to Williams College students,
and we offer internships for students in the recognized conservation Masters of
Science degree programs.
WACC’s relationship
with the Clark Art Institute also needs clarification. While the Clark is one
of our 54 member museums, it is also our landlord. The Clark leadership
recognizes the greater public function that we serve and has generously
supported our work over the years by providing the unusual technical facilities
a conservation laboratory requires.
The Clark’s
commitment to WACC, to Williamstown, to the economic stability of the
Berkshries and to the broader goals of art preservation is outstanding, so much
so that they are willing to construct a beautiful new building tailored to our
specialized needs.
However, the choice
of site, architect, design and financing have been mainly decisions of the
Clark, with input from the WACC. WACC is a small institution with liited
capital: Our role (in both financing and design) is necessarily limited ot
internal negotiations with our landlord.
As
many townspeople know, the conservation center has struggled for years to
resolve problems of insufficient space and moderniziation needs. The center’s
building-expansion capital campaign, begun in 1997, has seen years of
frustration and delay. Three complete designs have been developed and scuttle
dand support grants acquired only to be forfeited, due to an unending series of
planning obstacles.The frustration felt by all conservation staff because of
these many setbacks has now been increased by rumors and misunderstandings
about our role here in Williamstown.
In
addition to the points raised above: We don’t produce toxic waste or continuous
bad smells, and our mechanical systems are no lounder than that of any large
building.
In
addition, many staff are long-time, concerned citizens of Williamstown and have
diverse opinons on the proposed waterline. We understand that if the
townspeople vote no on the apprpriation, the new conservation center will be
built on the Clark’s Stone Hill.
And
like you, we plan to vote our own separate consciences at the proposed Dec. 2
meeting.
Thomas J. Branchick
Williamstown
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