Friday, February 22, 2013
Leaders at the Detroit Institute of Arts express gratitude to voters for approving last fall's millage, which will help cover the museum's operating costs for the next 10 years.
When tri-county voters passed the DIA millage by overwhelming fashion in November, they demonstrated their willingness to support the arts and regional cooperation. And officials with the Detroit Insititue of Arts honored that spirit and gratitude when they recently discussed the November millage that will help cover the museum's operating costs. "I cannot tell you what an important and critical vote that was," DIA chief operating officer Annmarie Erickson said Feb. 8. "Your help really did an amazingly critical thing for the DIA." Erickson made her statement at the DIA's Crystal Ballroom as part an announcement of which Metro Detroit communities would host the next round of Inside|Out installations this spring and summer. In November, …
Sunday, December 2, 2012
The Detroit Institute of Arts named Jennifer Fischer to its board of directors as part of an agreement following the August millage.
Jennifer Fischer, of Bloomfield Hills, is among 11 new members recently named to the Detroit Institute of Arts board of directors. The appointment is part of an agreement following the August approval of a $230 million millage by voters in Oakland, Macomb andWayne Counties. In return for this financial support, residents and school groups from the three counties that supported the millage receive free admission to the museum for the next decade. As part of the millage, the institute authorities established in each county appointed two members to the board. Hubert Massey and Amy DeBrunner represent Wayne County; Lillian Demas and Donald Ritzenhein represent Macomb county; and Thomas Guastello of Birmingham joins Fischer in Oakland County. …
Friday, August 10, 2012
Bloomfield Hills Schools students could benefit from Tuesday's millage approval along with art lovers.
Oakland County residents on Tuesday authorized an Art Institute Authority millage that is reported to cost residents $15 a year on a house worth $150,000. In return for this investment, the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) will provide free, unlimited general admission for residents and free field trips for students. Shira Good, spokeswoman for the Bloomfield Hills Schools, said she asked instructional staff about field trips following Tuesday's vote, but that it was too soon to know. "It’s pretty soon to tell about how this will impact us," she wrote in an e-mail to Patch. "I know we’re thrilled with the outcome and are pleased that such a treasure in our area will be preserved." Last year, a combined 842 students, teachers, and …
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Here are some of the displays that residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb county can now see for free at the Detroit Institute of Arts.
After tri-county voters passed the DIA millage in the election yesterday, the Detroit Insititue of Arts wants to make sure that residents get their money's worth. “When we announced that we would seek the millage, we pledged that if it were to pass we would provide free admission to residents of all three counties. We are immediately following through on that pledge," said Graham W. J. Beal, DIA director, in a press release. Tri-county voters approved a tax of 0.2 mills for the next 10 years to fund the arts authority, so admission is now free to residents of Oakland, Wayne and Macomb county residents. Here are some of the special exhibits that residents can see: A painting by Johannes Vermeer on loan from the National Gallery of Art in …
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
The Detroit Institute of Arts millage passed in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties on Tuesday.
As of 10 a.m. Wednesday, anyone in the tri-county area can visit the Detroit Institute of Arts for free. The former admission fee has been tossed to the wind thanks to voters in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties passing the Arts Authority Millage, more commonly known as the DIA millage, on Tuesday. Tri-county voters approved a tax of 0.2 mills for the next 10 years to fund the arts authority. “We feel wonderful,” said Annmarie Erickson, the DIA’s chief operating officer. “We want to thank voters throughout the area with coming out for such a strong showing of support. We are so deeply appreciative of the work of our staff and volunteers and everyone who got behind this campaign and pushed it forward to a successful completion.” A Party …
With many precincts still reporting, Oakland County voters seem to be in favor of the DIA millage, while Macomb County's passage or rejection of the millage lies within a margin of 1 percent. Wayne County has yet to report its results.
With 39 percent of precincts reporting, Oakland County looks as though it will pass the Arts Authority Millage, commonly known as the DIA Millage. Since Oakland County started reporting its results, some 60 percent of voters have been in favor of the millage, with 65.1 percent of voters currently in support. Patch believes it is too early to call the results in Macomb County, as the difference between passage or failure of the millage is just 1 percent at the present time. With roughly 89.5 percent of precincts reporting in Macomb County, 50.2 percent of voters are in favor of the millage. At this time, Wayne County results are still pending. At 0.2 mills, a taxpayer owning a $200,000 home, with a taxable value of $100,000, would be …
Saturday, July 28, 2012
One spectator's notes from Thursday's forum in Troy about the Aug. 7 ballot proposal.
- OPINION
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Saturday, July 28, 2012
The following was written after attending a panel discussion organized by opposition to the DIA millage. The panel included State Rep. Tom McMillin (R-Rochester), Bruce Walker of MichiganView.com, County Commissioner Robert Gosselin, and Simon Haddad of the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance. 1. "The City of Detroit continues to own the Museum's permanent art collection, including works of art acquired prior or subsequent to the operating agreement, as well as the Museum building and grounds." Despite this, the City of Detroit does not want to provide any funding to support the DIA. In 2011, the City of Detroit provided $500,000 to fund the DIA's operation and upkeep. In 2012, the city of Detroit has cut all funding. The City of Detroit did …
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
"The case for the DIA millage is compelling ... for future growth in the arts and the economy. That is pretty good return for about $15 per year," one area resident says.
- OPINION
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Wednesday, July 25, 2012
This letter was received by Birmingham Patch Editor Laura Houser. Voters in Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne Counties will be asked Aug. 7 to approve 0.2 mils for 10 years, which is approximately $15 per year for every $150,000 of a home’s fair market value. This money will go to provide one of many sources of funding needed to support a world-class art museum: the Detroit Institute of Arts. As the vote nears for the Arts Millage in southeast Michigan, I feel compelled to share some of my thoughts. The Detroit Institute of Arts is an irreplaceable resource that brings incredible works of art, film, music, and so much more to our collective Detroit community. I personally choose to pay for a membership so I can enjoy these treasures many times …
Marcia Robovitsky
11:17 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
There is more to the DIA story. Voters approved a millage for the DIA. However, there are municipalities that have "legally" taken some of that DIA millage money that was collected and intended for the DIA and kept it for other expenses in their community. Also, this article repeats the misunderstood concept of "free admission" to the DIA. Not in the ballot language, but assumed understood by 3 … more ›