Response
I figured yesterday’s post might prompt some reaction. It might have been a bit more edgy than what I usually post on this blog. But if it’s not time to ask some hard questions of COTPA, when is the right time?
I heard from some folks concerned about the tone and substance of the post. Some say the Photography Hall of Fame has been a disorganized mess for years and couldn’t do a decent job at promoting themselves even in their earliest years here in OKC.
Others say the former chair of the group made it his mission to leave OKC. Of course, he’s now the former chair, so that situation is gone.
Then there are those on the public side who question if the private sector might get upset if COTPA were to offer space for free to a group like this, competing with privately owned retail space. Readers, what do you think?
Then there is the overall vibe I’m getting that City Hall isn’t hearing the true extent of dissatisfaction with COTPA. So here’s a sampling from just the past day:
The following is from a downtown business executive:
It’s about time some of the incompetence of COTPA employees saw the light of day!!!
What a unbelievably stupid decision!! I, of course, have only had to deal with the total incompetence of the people that handle the parking garages in many of the 28+ years I have worked downtown. With the rates their charging and the limited debt they have ever taken on, they should not have ANY bond holders if they were run efficiently. (At least in my opinion.) (I have told friends, a high school Key Club could do a better job.)
I moved to Main Street Parking many years ago and have always been pleased with their service (YES, actual service!!!). But they are owned by people that have to make a profit. My move was directly because of COTPA’s incompetence.
The following is from a leader in Urban Neighbors:
OKC CENTRAL on COTPA pop quiz: Freakin’ awesome
Now that’s keeping it short.
And finally, here’s one more comment posted on www.okctalk.com by “pixare” that pretty much represents what I’ve been hearing from the opposing point of view to the dealings between COTPA and the International Photography Hall of Fame:
It’s funny how in so many political discussions on these boards, people cry out all the time for “self-reliance, self-reliance, self-reliance.” Yet, when it comes to this project, it’s all about “city, save them.”
What is the IPHOF doing to SAVE itself?
As someone who has a “second career” in photography and the arts, I rarely see any word or hear anything about the IPHOF in the media.
A few questions:
What are they doing to promote themselves and attract more tourists?
What are they doing to raise funds for their organization to keep operating?
What are they doing to find grant and arts support from local, regional and national foundations and funding sources to bring in exhibitions the public wishes to see?It seems to me before everyone starts pointing fingers at City Hall they need to ask themselves what, exactly, the IPHOF is doing to make things work for themselves. I mean, it appears (and I have little inside information on the matter), that they’re just looking for a gov’t handout without doing any additional work to make things happen.
If it were not for Carolyn Hill and the $40 million she was able to secure in PRIVATE (read: non-government) support, we wouldn’t have a beautiful, new downtown museum of art.
Look at the National Cowboy Hall, the OKC Art Museum, and even the Science Museum of Oklahoma. Look at IAO, Untitled and CityArts. They are all active in attracting tourism and providing self-support and funding for their programs through active funding programs.
Seems these groups have managed to find a way to succeed where the IPHOF has not. Frankly, as a photographer, I’ve been to several of their exhibits, and haven’t found anything that critically exciting nor historically important. I also find it interesting that they don’t reach out much to the local photography community as a BASE of support.
I believe before they start screaming about “we’re going to move,” they need to clean their own house first.
Heck if the “International Gymnastics Hall of Fame” can find a base of support in downtown OKC (at least I think it’s still down in the conncourse), then surely the IPHOF can do something to for themselves.
Don’t mean to sound like a Donald Downer, but it’s just a contrary opinion here. I’d love to see them stay, but don’t see that much of a loss if they do go, especially if they are not active in making things happen for themselves.
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Comments
Steve,
Thanks for the follow-up article and getting more balsy with your discussion. The CITY and City organizations need to hear this information, they have started rested on their laurels again after our recent renaissance. I wish this was posted in the print edition of the Oklahoman.
The CITY needs to realize COTPA and OCURA are complete jokes, their time has past, and they need to be dismantled and modern organizations need to replace them. On COTPA, they definitely need to be dismantled and a Regional Transit Authority needs to be established.
Regardless of the IPHOF’s ability or lack therof to self promote, why is the city opening the door for them to walk out on us and say don’t let the door hit ya on your way out, after 25 years or so of being in our community. Yes, the IPHOF does a poor job of promoting themselves, but so has the city/chamber done a poor job of promoting them. They seem to have no problem touting the NCHFWHM or the upcoming AICC or OKCMOA. Dare we talk about the stupid handout to putting a suburban Bass Pro DOWNTOWN of all places? Wake up COTPA and City Hall, we need to save this institution and get them downtown. Hopefully once they get in a decent location, they will get their act together.
I can understand the argument against IPHOF. The OKCMOA was actually dropped from the list of potential MAPS projects because the organization was disorganized with poor leadership (this was pre-Carolyn Hill).
But we’re not talking millions in investment here. We’re talking about a few thousand dollars that’s pretty much chump change for COTPA. And the IPHOF is planning to move to another city. Maybe they haven’t maximized their fundraising and PR potential, but is that a good reason to just let them go? I don’t think so.
This attraction has tremendous potential to be an INTERNATIONAL destination if done right and in a more visible location. We need to work to keep them here. If the cheap rent has to come with a requirement that they have a change in leadership or something of that sort, then so be it.
(as you know) I’ve been involved with IPHF for several years and many of the comments expressed here are right on target about IPHF being a well kept secret, etc. Bob Mills and Mathis Brothers can spend more on advertising during one weekend than IPHF has in an entire year.
I’ve been in touch with Chip Fudge and looked at space in the Film District, it is hard to image a better location for IPHF than in the Film Exchange building at 700 W. Sheridan, but it would cost us over $10,000 each month and thats a lot of money for less space than we presently have in the OmniPlex. I’m going to ask Mr. Fudge if we were to occupy part of his space if we could obtain a rental rate sensitive to gate collected and fund raising success.
We’re trying to hire an Executive Director, either rehiring Katie Sutton, or finding someone new.
Thanks for your help and interest in IPHF and OC.
RJW
In a city with a mess of generally well run public and private organizations, COTPA is a glaring anomaly. This decision isn’t just silly and counterproductive, it’s typical of the sort of tonedeaf leadership that has been at COTPA for years. Hopefully the new emphasis on transit in MAPS3 will include an overhaul of this agency, or at least some new blood. Instead of jealously protecting it’s own institutional interests, it would be nice to see COTPA take a more active role in doing things to enrich and promote downtown. First order of business: fix the trolley system. It’s embarrassing.
As for the private sector complaining, I don’t see how business owners could complain about a long empty storefront turning into another attraction that would draw in or keep people in downtown OKC. I think small projects like a new home for the photography hall of fame are every bit as good for downtown as massive new developments, because they add to the richness of options for visitors downtown.