MUSEUM PROPOSED AT NEW CAMPUS

The River Heritage Museum would move out of Cape Girardeau's old fire station and become part of the proposed River Campus museum if the historical group has its way.

The River Heritage organization would become a society whose members would support the River Campus museum and even volunteer their time to help staff it, said Jerry Ford, a member of the River Campus Board of Managers. The board met Thursday afternoon at Southeast Missouri State University's Dempster Hall.

The old fire station is owned by the city of Cape Girardeau. It could be used for additional storage space and exhibit construction space for the River Campus museum.

Southeast wants to turn a former Catholic seminary into the River Campus visual and performing arts school. The $36 million project would include construction of a new museum.

Current plans call for a horseshoe-shaped museum of about 20,000 square feet in size.

Board of Managers member Dennis Vollink said 90 percent of the plans for the River Campus would be driven by the university's academic needs. But Vollink said the River Campus needs to largely serve community needs such as providing space to focus on regional history.

The project is to be funded partly by the city through its motel and restaurant taxes.

Vollink voiced concern that the university's needs are driving development plans for the museum.

Vollink suggested the museum include space for a visitors' center. He said a visitors' center would draw more passing motorists to the River Campus.

Dr. Marc Strauss, associate dean for the River Campus, said community interests will be considered in developing the museum.

Strauss said the museum could include a number of exhibit areas, including one for regional history.

Southeast currently is looking to hire a museum director. Strauss and the Board of Managers agreed that it might be a good idea to include Vollink as a community representative on a search committee.

Members of the Board of Managers met with Daniel North, executive director of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri.

North suggested Southeast should consider establishing a satellite gallery in the Haarig neighborhood on the city's south side. The area includes the old business district along Good Hope.

North said the university could fund the satellite gallery and the arts council could manage it. The satellite gallery would allow the university to place its students in museum studies internships.

The move also could help needed redevelopment efforts in the neighborhood, he said.

North suggested that student I.D. passes be provided for all Blanchard Elementary School students so they can attend events at the River Campus free of charge. Providing passes could help foster appreciation of the arts for students, particularly those on the city's south side where the River Campus is situated, North said.

He also advised the Board of Managers to consider establishing a subscription series to help pay for bringing concerts and other artistic events to the River Campus.

North said the Arts Council has expanded its offerings to include some 260 programs a year. The Arts Council increasingly is presenting arts programs in the elementary and secondary schools.

"We are really trying to expand our vision," he said.

North said the Arts Council has a summer arts program for children. "The reality is that it is cheaper than day care," he said.

The River Campus museum needs to be large enough to rotate exhibits "so you're not looking at the same arrowheads for 10 years," North said.