AUGUST 2000
VALUABLE ART MUSEUM BECOMES PART OF FSU
On 60 acres on Sarasota Bay is The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, with one of the most valuable collections in the nation, a circus museum and a 31-room Venetian-style mansion.
On July 1, it was all transferred to Florida State University, to administer Cà d 'Zan, the former home of John and Mable Ringling and museums and use them for education - from the elementary-school level through the university's already well known fine and performing arts.
The FSU Center for the Fine and Performing Arts is adjacent to the Ringling Museum.
FSU will conduct academic programs in theatre, dance, art,
art history and museum management.
The museum was willed to the state by John Ringling, who died
in 1936. It became, as the Ringlings intended, the state art
museum of Florida.
The Legislature voted this year to transfer the Ringling from
Florida's Department of State to Florida State University.
"The Legislature has recognized FSU's strength in both the
sciences and the humanities," FSU President Sandy D'Alem-berte
said.
"We envision the FSU-Ringling Center for the Cultural
Arts becoming a unique and successful blend of culture and academic
excellence."
D'Alemberte and the arts faculties are proposing, for example,
baroque-music concerts in the museum, where baroque art is a
specialty; visits of eminent scholars in the arts; collaboration
of theater, dance, music and circus with the visual arts; special
events and seminars; collaboration in history and culture.
D'Alemberte said, "I can't think of another facility in
the country where you have a major museum coupled with all these
performing arts.
"This will be the largest museum/university operation in
the country."
The Legislature has given possession of the Ringling collection and authority to administer the land and buildings to Florida State. The Governor and the Cabinet, sitting as the state's landlord, will continue to hold title to the property.
The collection includes major works by Peter Paul Rubens and
Diego Velasquez and, from the 19th century, Rosa Bonheur and
Aldred Stevens. Although the museum specializes in Baroque art,
its collection includes antiquities, sculpture and decorative
arts. Visitors see bronze replicas of ancient sculpture (David
in the garden, for example), 20th century and contemporary art.
The $500-million pro-perty was transferred to FSU in an amendment
by Sen. John McKay, R-Bradenton, to a bill reorganizing the Florida
De-partment of State.
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"Ringling is an underutilized asset and it had considerable deferred maintenance and little accountability," McKay said, explaining the decision to turn it over to a university. " I think Sandy (D'Alemberte) has put together about a 17- or 19-page vision which far exceeds what we initially had imagined."
The state budget for the current fiscal year gives FSU an extra $1.25 million to oversee the museum and expand the arts programs and $3 million for renovations at the Ringling. FSU will seek more next year.
The museum also has its own trust fund and money-raising structure.
The Ringling has a $6.5-million pledge from circus buff Howard
Tibbals toward the renovation and expansion of the circus museum.
The museum must match the pledge and raise another $3 million
for the project.
And the FSU Foundation will help raise money for the FSU-Ringling
Center for the Cultural Arts.
Some patrons of the Ringling Museum fear that the bayfront property
on which the museum sits could be used for private development.
"Absolutely not," said D'Alemberte. "We are educators, not developers. The Governor and the Cabinet will continue to supervise the use of the land, to make sure it is for public purposes. Our goal is to link FSU's academic programs with the unique art and architecture of the Ringling properties."