Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-29

C1e same purpose.
AS a member of the commission
1 know that its report will be Spe-
cific and comprehensive. Every
available site will have been care
fully considered as to location, size,
cost, nearneSS to transportation,
population trend and parking facili-
ties both above and below ground.
The report will carry a plan for
the building or series of buildings
which will fill the needs of Wash
ington.
But it is futile to believe that this
commission can achieve its purpose
unless the people throughout the
country are brought to realize the
Importance and great need for a
cultural center here.
Foreign Encouragement
What other countries have done
gives us encouragement. After
World War II the war-torn coun-
tries of Europe, their morale low,
realized the Importance of cultural
centers and began Immediately
their reservations. Concert halls
and opera houses came first on their
list after basic needs of housing and
food. A great deal of the money
was supplied by our Government
and by organizations in the United
States
There was, for example, the $10,-
100000 State Opera House in Vi
emma, which opened its doors in the
fall of 1855.
At present under construction
within sight of the Communist Sec
tor of East Berlin is Congress Hall,
seating capacity $500, to be used
for concerts. symphonies and ballet.
Realizing the Importance of a
building dedicated to the Freedom
of Speech" overlooking Communist
Germany, the Benjamin Franklin
German American Foundation
sponsored the building under the
guidance of the United States State
Department. The cost of 100000
is financed $1,000,000 by our State
Department, $2,500,000 by the Re-
public of Germany and $750,000 by
the City of Berlin.
The Communist world, too, is
aware of the value of cultural CEN
tiers. Although Budapest. Warsaw.
Bucharest are still in ruins, the
Communists rebuilt the famous
opera house in East Berlin.
Questions to Be Answered
In addition to the traditional diff
ficulties of its task, the commits
sion is having trouble interpreting
the law that set it up. The law
calls for civic auditorium including
an Inaugural Hall of Presidents and
a music, fine arts and mass COM
municaticn center.
Should the Inaugural Hall of
Presidents be large enough to ac-
commodate the entire inaugural
ceremonies? Or should it be just
large enough to accommodate Con-
greSs and dignitarieS. with the thou
sands Of others who attend this
event watching on television out
side? Where can the site be found
to erect such a building and &C
commodate the large outside as
sembled audience? Shall we design
building large enough to house an
American Legion convention, but
perhaps totally unsuited for small
trade organizations or for concerts,
operas or ballet? Can we afford a
series of buildings or is it better
to have one building convertible into
large and small auditoriums?
What Is a mass communication
center? From this building shall
historical events here in Washing
ton be televised all over the United
States and abroad? Should this be
center designed to indoctrinate
tourists by lectures and movies be-
fore they visit the Federal buildings
and historical shrineS?
In the law Congress requests that
careful consideration be given to a
self-liquidating plan. Can a build
ing devoted to the cultural arts be
elf-liquidating?
suppose the commissions report
is received by Congress and a site
is donated, but no funds for con-
struction are appropriated. What
is the next move? Can we expect
the people throughout the Nation
to aid? Can we depend on great
corporations who have in recent
years contributed generously to
educational funds, art centers and
assembly halls? Can we expect
help from the national foundations?
None of these questions can be
answered by an auditorium COM
mission. The solution can only
come from the citizens of the
United States.
We cannot hope for the COM
pletion Of an entire center immedi-
ately, for such a project calls for
careful planning over a period of
years. The immediate need is for
a building to provide suitable facili-
ties for official hospitality of the
Federal Government. architectural
ly combining great beauty with
great usefulness. Such a building
should be planned for use of civic
and veterans organizations, philan-
thropic and trade organizations. 1t
should be at the disposal of SYM
phony orchestras. opera, the thea
ter, ballet and other cultural and
entertainment media and it should
provide fitting background for
world gatherings in the Nations
Capital.