Ellarslie and Trent House in Peril

Hello,

It seems a regular thing that our cultural resources are in jeopardy.  This time the Trenton City administration is planning to eliminate the professional staff at its two major institutions (Ellarslie and the Trent House) and replace those individuals with "interns."  

As may know, TAWA has a had a positive relationship with the Trenton City Museum since the early years of both organizations.  Many artists have benefited from participating in the museum's programs.   Those opportunities may not exist in the near future.  Therefore, it would be positive for people living, working, or participating in the arts of Trenton to let the city administration know it's time for them to work out a plan that engages arts and history professionals, partners with organizations that are involved with these institutions, and work out a plan for the future.

The following is a letter from the president of the Trenton Museum Society.  It speaks for itself and provides anyone with a way of speaking up.  Do what you can.

Thanks,

Dan Aubrey

Here's the information:

Dear Ellarslie Patron,

As you may have read in the news, the City of Trenton is laying off the director
of the Trenton City Museum effective Sept 16. Although the Trenton Museum Society
operates separately from the City, our contract with the City provides for this
position, which is key to the functioning of the museum.

We know that as a supporter of the museum you appreciate the exhibits of contemporary
fine art and Trenton history, the education programs for children and adults, and
the wide array of music events the Trenton City Museum offers. These programs have
made Cadwalader Park and the surrounding area a safe, pleasant environment and have
contributed to local growth as our patrons branch out from the museum to other local
venues.

Without a qualified director, the Trenton Museum Society will be forced to cancel
most of our programming. Especially disappointing would be the loss of the Four
Vases exhibit, which would have brought the museum greater regional and even national
attention.

Before we take these drastic steps, we hope to convince the City to rescind the
layoff of the current director, at least until another valid plan is in place.

Would you help us in this effort by contacting your local representative, representatives
of the City of Trenton, and/or the media?

Below is a simple template that can assist you in this effort, as well as some email
addresses, postal addresses and phone numbers.

We sincerely thank you for your past support, and we hope you will support the museum
with your calls, letters and emails - and also by your renewed or new membership
in the Trenton Museum Society.

Sincerely,

Robert J. Cunningham

President, Trenton Museum Society

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Sample letter/ email/ phone message

To whom it may concern:

I am contacting you to express my concern about the situation at the Trenton City
Museum. I'm a supporter of the museum, and I would be very upset to lose the programming
it offers in the arts, history, music, and education.

In these difficult economic times, it's important that we, and our children, have
places to go that offer low- and no-cost entertainment and educational opportunities.
By laying off the director of the museum you will be endangering many of these opportunities.

I am writing to request that you rescind the layoff of the current director until
the City of Trenton and the Trenton Museum Society have agreed on a plan that will
allow the museum to continue to operate as a legitimate cultural institution.

Sincerely,

____________________________________________________________________________

Contacts

City Administration

Tony F. Mack, Mayor

City Hall

319 E. State Street

Trenton, NJ 08608

Tel: 609-989-3030

Fax: 609-989-3939

mayorsoffice@trentonnj.org

Lauren J. Ira, Director of Policy and Communications

City Hall

319 E. State Street

Trenton, NJ 08608

Tel: 609-989-3052

Fax: 609-989-3939

lira@trentonnj.org

Eric Berry, City of Trenton Business Administrator

Eberry@trentonnj.org

John Seigle, Assistant to Eric Berry

609-989-3807

City Council

Tel: 609-989-3146

Fax: 609-989-3190

George Muschal

South Ward Councilman

gmuschal@trentonnj.org

Phyllis Holly-Ward

Councilwoman at Large

phollyward@trentonnj.org

Kathy McBride

Councilwoman at Large

kmcbride@trentonnj.org

Alex Bethea

Councilman At Large

abethea@trentonnj.org

Verlina Reynolds-Jackson

East Ward Councilwoman

vreynolds-jackson@trentonnj.org

Marge Caldwell-Wilson

North Ward Councilwoman

mcaldwell-wilson@trentonnj.org

Zachary Chester

West Ward Councilman

Tel: 609-989-3146

Fax: 609-989-3190

zchester@trentonnj.org

Press

Editor

The Times

P.O. Box 847

Trenton, NJ 08605

Fax: 609-394-2819

letters@njtimes.com

Editor

The Trentonian

600 Perry Street

Trenton, NJ 08618

609-989-7800

letters@trentonian.com