For 20 years the San Diego Museum of Art has promoted the Art Alive fund-raiser to support museum programs and exhibits. Yet the event has lost thousands of dollars in two of the last three years, according to the most recent tax records. The five-day floral and art showcase begins Wednesday night with a gala opening. Museum staff said they don't know why costs were more than money raised, but are attempting to make the annual event a moneymaker.
Every group decides how to handle it in a different way.
With a new director, now we're doing things in a different way. Art Alive has a 20-year history and we want to respect that. It won't be the same Art Alive. Last year, Art Alive was moved to the Municipal Gymnasium in Balboa Park due to the museum's remodeling and restoration project. Instead of using permanent pieces from the museum's collection, it received artwork from 18 local galleries.