Goodbye to Guggenheim

Friday, April 11, 2008 | 2:06 a.m.

Las Vegas’ Guggenheim Hermitage Museum will close its doors forever when its contract with the Venetian expires May 11.

As the Las Vegas Sun reported Thursday, the museum’s nearly seven-year run included 10 major fine art exhibitions, including works by such artists as Degas, Picasso, Rubens and Chagall.

Guggenheim officials told Sun reporter Kristen Peterson that the museum plans to work with the Venetian on “a number of projects,” but they gave no specifics. Venetian officials did not return the Sun’s request for comment.

In the nearly seven years it existed, Las Vegas’ Guggenheim Hermitage Museum attracted more than 1 million visitors and provided educational outreach programs for more than 26,000 children and adults through school tours and programs, lectures and teacher workshops, the Sun reports.

Libby Lumpkin, executive director of the Las Vegas Art Museum, told the Sun’s Peterson that it will be “a big loss not to have the great works of art on display and in our community.”

We agree. We strongly support expanding the arts and cultural experiences for Las Vegas Valley residents and visitors.

Still, there is a considerable degree of uncertainty when such ventures are housed in for-profit venues. The Guggenheim Las Vegas, which was larger than the Guggenheim Hermitage, closed after only 15 months of operation in the Venetian because of low attendance and lack of funding. Steve Wynn also has dismantled his fine arts gallery.

This illustrates why it is important for the community to support the Las Vegas Art Museum and other projects that bring cultural offerings to residents and visitors in settings that aren’t confined to casinos.