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Friends of the Barnes Foundation (FBF) Press
Releases - Archive
February 2, 2012
Friends of the Barnes Statement
Release
Jan. 25, 2012
Friends of the Barnes Foundation's Attorney to Challenge Financial Sanctions
Release
Sept 15, 2011
Barnes Foundation Stages Political Theater for Sponsors and Politicos despite Legal Challenge to the Barnes Move.
Release
August 1, 2011
Media advisory: Barnes Foundation Back to Judge Ott’s Court
Friends of the Barnes Petition: “This Court has been misled”
Release
FBF Statement
July 29, 2011
Friends’ Lawyer to Argue in Court on Monday for Barnes Case to be Re-Opened, Citing Misconduct of PA Attorney General
Release
July 3, 2011
Media Advisory/Photo Opportunity of Protestors at Barnes Foundation at 10AM: Friends Protest Fact sheet
Release
July 2, 2011
Media Advisory/Photo Opportunity of Protestors at Barnes Foundation
Release
June 9, 2011
Sam Stretton To Argue Friends’ Case Before Judge Ott On August 1
Release
May 18, 2011
FRIENDS OF THE BARNES FOUNDATION’S COURT BRIEF HAMMERS AWAY AT ATTORNEY GENERAL’S “ABSOLUTE CONFLICT OF INTEREST” THAT MISLED THE COURT
Release
March 29, 2011
The Barnes Foundation matter returns to Judge Ott's Courtroom today
Release
March 25, 2011
The Barnes Foundation matter that was to take place in Montgomery County Orphans’ Court on Friday, March 18, 2011 at 9:30 am has been continued to Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at 9:30am.
Release
March 17, 2011
Barnes Foundation matter in Montgomery County Orphans' Court to be continued....
Release
Feb. 17, 2011
FRIENDS OF THE BARNES FOUNDATION PETITIONS JUDGE OTT, CITING MISCONDUCT BY FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL MIKE FISHER THAT MISLED MONTGOMERY COUNTY ORPHANS’ COURT
Release
February 15, 2011
U.S. Congressman Gerlach and Montgomery County Commission Castor urge Governor Corbett to halt taxpayer funding of Parkway Barnes.
Release Letter to Governor Corbett
December 30, 2010
Friends of the Barnes Foundation Mark Birth of Albert C. Barnes; Attorney Samuel C. Stretton, Esquire to Raise Ethical Issues
Release
December 30, 2010
Notes on Barnes Day event
Release
December 21, 2010
Friends of the Barnes Foundation declare January 2, 2011 “Barnes Day” to Honor Albert C. Barnes and Protest Destruction of His Legacy
Release
October 20, 2010
Friends of the Barnes Foundation lauches multi-media ad campaign:
Save The Barnes. Stop The Move.
Friends of the Barnes Foundation today
announced the launch of a provocative multimedia advertising campaign
designed to foster support for preservation of the Barnes Foundation in its
historic Merion setting. The citizen advocates will use print, television,
a website, and the social media networks Facebook and Twitter to reach the
general public with the campaign called "Save The Barnes. Stop The Move."
Release
August 18, 2010
Friends of the barnes foundation says DRPA contribution confirms barnes move as a pork barrel project.
Members of Friends of the Barnes Foundation will speak at today’s meeting of the Delaware River Port Authority about the $500,000 donation the agency gave to the Barnes move project.
Release
February 26, 2010
Media Advisory - Photo Opportunity. Friends of the Barnes Rally at Art of the Steal Opening for Truth and Permanent Preservation of the Barnes in Merion.
Friends of the Barnes Foundation continue the quest for
permanent preservation of the Barnes Foundation in Merion, with a rocket boost from the riveting
documentary “The Art of the Steal,” opening today in Philadelphia and New York.
Release
Destruction of Barnes in Merion by removal of its art collection is not an acceptable option.
The advocacy organization Friends of the Barnes
Foundation pursues permanent preservation for the Barnes Foundation in Merion with a new and
powerful tool for the cause. The documentary about the Barnes controversy, “The Art of the Steal,”
will be released today in Philadelphia and New York followed by nationwide distribution to more than
75 cities as far away as Honolulu, Hawaii.
Release
November 27, 2009
London Plane Trees to be Cut Down by Barnes in Stealth Move
In a memo sent on Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, the Barnes Foundation notified all the
major institutions on the Parkway that 28 of the beautiful old London Plane trees would be removed
from the Parkway on Monday. This is contrary to the Barnes press release of October 7, 2009 which
stated that “London plane trees on the site will be preserved and will serve as a buffer between the
building and the busy city.
Release
November 13, 2009
Press Conference November 13, 2009
Today, Pennsylvania State Attorney General Tom Corbett is making news by indicting John
Perzel for using taxpayer money for political purposes. Where’s he been? Governor Rendell
has been playing politics with the Barnes Foundation for years now. Tom Corbett, who would
like to take the Governor’s place, has repeatedly turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to the
obvious, deeply troubling issues with the Barnes.
Release
November 12, 2009
Press Conference to be Held Minutes before
Barnes Foundation Groundbreaking Travesty.
DATE: Friday, November 13, 2009
TIME: 9:30 AM
LOCATION: Benjamin Franklin Parkway at 20th Street
Release
October 6, 2009
Robert Venturi, world-renowned architect and Philadelphia native, has spoken out against the move of the Barnes Foundation art collection to Philadelphia.
Release
September 29, 2009
Friends of the Barnes Foundation members head to New York Film Festival for "The Art of the Steal" to continue efforts to preserve revered Barnes cultural site.
The citizen advocates who have long opposed the plan to
dismantle the Barnes Foundation, one of Pennsylvania’s most valuable cultural sites, will take their cause to
Alice Tully Hall in New York City tonight during the New York Film Festival where the documentary “The
Art of the Steal” will be screened. Several members of the organization appear in the film and will be at the
screening.
Release
July 14, 2009
Friends of the Barnes Foundation urges Governor to give back $30 million reserved for Philadelphia Barnes pork barrel projetc in support of Harrisburg Arts Rally
Today hundreds of Pennsylvania arts activists will rally in the Capitol Rotunda in the Pennsylvania State House in Harrisburg. Friends of the Barnes Foundation supports the efforts to secure funding for the arts in Pennsylvania, beginning with a “give back” of the $30,000,000 currently held in reserve for one single project: a Philadelphia Barnes, widely understood to be a huge Philly-style pork barrel project.
Release
June 10, 2009
Friends of the Barnes Foundation return to DPRA today: “Move the people, not the Barnes"
Today, representatives of Friends of the Barnes Foundation will again urge the Commissioners of the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) to rescind their authorization for $500,000 toward the dismantling of the Barnes Foundation. They will ask for a public vote by the DRPA Board.
Release
May 20, 2009
Friends of the Barnes Foundation will appeal to DRPA commisioners to ask them to rescind $500,000 for Barnes move project.
The request stems from the absence of evidence that the Philadelphia Barnes
venture meets the DRPA’s own guidelines for economic development projects. In
addition, circumstances have changed significantly from when the DRPA pledged the
funds in 2003, including the Barnes' documented eligibility as a National Historic
Landmark, which opens up new possibilities for fundraising, and the 125% increase in
visitation approved by Lower Merion Township.
Release
Read Paper by Matityahu Marcus, Ph.D. "An Economist’s Consideration of Delaware River Port Authority Funding for a Philadelphia Barnes Foundation facility."
May 15, 2009
Friends of the Barnes Foundation to DRPA: The Barnes move is not regional economic development.
On May 20, representatives of Friends of the Barnes
Foundation will appear before the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) Commissioners to
urge reconsideration of the DRPA’s $500,000 pledge toward the planned dismantling and
removal of the Barnes Foundation art collection from its internationally-revered home in Merion,
Pennsylvania to a tourism venue five miles away in Philadelphia.
Release
March 16, 2009
Letter to the donors funding the dismantling of the Barnes
“Advocates for preservation of the Barnes Foundation in its historic Merion home have written directly to the donors funding the dismantling of the Barnes art collection to urge them to abandon their financial support for the Benjamin Franklin Parkway project to the extent they legally can. “
Release
August 13, 2008
FBF calls for Positive Solutions
Friends of the Barnes Foundation today thanked John Morganelli,
Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania Attorney General for speaking in favor of preservation of the
world-renowned Barnes Foundation.
Release
John Morganelli statement
September 8, 2008
Vandalism strikes Barnes Foundation Neighborhood with wholesale theft of "JOIN THE FIGHT TO SAVE THE BARNES” signs.
Release
May 16, 2008
Friends of the Barnes Foundation, undaunted by Judge's dismissal of case, decries inaction of Attorney General.
Montgomery County Orphans’ Court Judge Stanley Ott issued a Memorandum Opinion denying legal standing for Friends of the Barnes Foundation and Montgomery County in the matter of the Barnes Foundation in Merion, Pennsylvania.
Release
May 1, 2008
Friends of the Barnes Foundation hail Montana's supreme court decision; seeks similar justice for Barnes
While awaiting the decision of Montgomery County Orphans’ Court Judge Stanley Ott to re-open hearings on the fate of the Barnes Foundation, Friends of the Barnes Foundation members are heartened by news of a stunning victory for champions of the Bair Museum in Montana.
Release
March 24, 2008
Despite sensible alternatives, current Barnes board pushes plan to dismantle the Barnes in Merion – a national treasure
Mr. Spade will ask Judge Ott to re-visit the matter because significant new developments have dramatically improved the financial situation of the Barnes Foundation in Merion.
Release
March 23, 2008
Friends of the barnes foundation attorney to argue in court for new hearings
Friends of the Barnes Foundation Attorney Eric F. Spade, Esquire will argue to re-open hearings on the Barnes Foundation controversy before Montgomery County Orphans’ Court Judge Stanley Ott on Monday, March 24 at 9:30am in Norristown.
Release
February 29, 2008
Friends of the Barnes Foundation files brief in Montgomery County Orphans’ Court
Friends of the Barnes Foundation (FBF) Attorney Eric Spade, Esquire, will be filing a Brief in Montgomery County Orphans’ Court in support of the group’s efforts to preserve an intact Barnes Foundation in Merion. The FBF Brief responds to Preliminary Objections filed by the Barnes Foundation and the Attorney General of Pennsylvania in October 2007 in response to the August 2007 Petition filed by the FBF. The Brief sets forth significant developments in Lower Merion Township and Montgomery County that, if undertaken by the Barnes Foundation, would eliminate the Foundation’s financial crisis and allow the Foundation to remain at its Merion location as intended by Dr. Albert Barnes when he established the Barnes Foundation.
Release
SPECIAL NOTE: On February 29, Montgomery County also filed a Brief in opposition to the Preliminary Objections of the Barnes Foundation and the Pennsylvania Attorney General.
Download the FBF brief (PDF - 144KB)
Download the Montgomery County brief (PDF - 1.93MB)
January 4, 2008
Pianist Beth Levin will perform J.S. Bach’s “Goldberg Variations” on Sunday, January 27, 2008 in the first performance of the Artists’ Campaign to Save the Barnes Foundation.
Release
December 15, 2007
Historic Significance Makes Barnes Foundation a Candidate for Esteemed National Landmark Status
The extraordinary historical significance of the Barnes Foundation and new initiatives for its historic preservation were presented by Friends of the Barnes Foundation at a meeting of the Lower Merion Conservancy on Thursday. The speakers were Bill Bolger, National Historic Landmarks program manager for the National Park Service in Philadelphia, historian Robert Zaller, and Lower Merion Township Commissioner Brian Gordon.
Release
October 23, 2007
FBF announces the “Artists’ Campaign for the
Barnes”
To raise money for their battle to
save the Barnes Foundation, the grass-roots organization Friends of
the Barnes Foundation announces the “Artists’ Campaign
for the Barnes” to benefit the Legal Defense Fund.
Release
October 19, 2007
Judge Ott Raises Barnes Foundation Case to the Next Level
- Update. Today marked an important development for those working for preservation of the Barnes Foundation when Judge Stanley Ott moved the Barnes matter to the next level in Montgomery County Orphans' Court.
Release
October 19, 2007
Barnes Foundation Board’s Response: Judge, Don’t Listen to Those People
The response of the Barnes Foundation Board of Trustees to petitions filed in Montgomery County Orphans Court that seek to undo its plan to move the prized Barnes art collection are predictably dismissive. The Preliminary Objection attempts to shift the focus from the substantive issues raised is petitions filed by the Friends of the Barnes and Montgomery County, to whether the petitioners should be permitted to raise any issues at all. The document refers to the petitioners’ claims as "scurrilous" and asks Judge Stanley Ott to make the petitioners pay for its legal costs.
Release
October 17, 2007
Barnes Board of Trustees to Respond to Friends of the Barnes, Montco Petitions this Friday
On Friday, October 19 at 9:30 a.m. in Courtroom 10, current members of the Barnes Foundation Board of Trustees and Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett are due to respond to petitions filed by Friends of the Barnes Foundation and Montgomery County by the order of Montgomery County Orphans’ Court Judge Stanley R. Ott.
Release
September 28, 2007
Judge Ott combines two court dates for
Barnes Board to answer Friends of the Barnes, Montco
petitions
"Montgomery
County Orphans' Court Judge Stanley Ott has ordered members of the
Barnes Board of Trustees to appear on October
19 to respond to two
separate petitions recently filed by Friends of the Barnes Foundation,
and Montgomery County, the county in which the Barnes Foundation
was established in 1922. "
Release
September 18, 2007
Judge Ott Orders Barnes Board Members to appear in Court on October
19
to Respond to Montgomery County Petition
"Judge Stanley Ott has issued a Citation to members of the Board of Trustees
of the Barnes Foundation requiring them to appear in court on October 19, 2007
to respond to the filing of Montgomery County’s petition seeking preservation
of the Barnes Foundation in Merion."
Release
September 17, 2007
Montgomery County Petitions Montgomery
County Orphans’ Court to Reopen Hearings on the Barnes Foundation
"Two petitions have now been filed with Montgomery County Orphan’s
Court to reopen hearings on the Barnes matter. Montgomery County, Pennsylvania,
the historic home of the Barnes Foundation, filed its Petition on September
12, 2007, affirming the County’s statutory responsibility to preserve
the Barnes as an indivisible entity, comprised of its Art Collection,
Archives, and Arboretum."
Release
September 10, 2007
Judge Stanley Ott Orders Response from Barnes Board, PA Attorney
General to
Friends of the Barnes Foundation Petition
"Having reviewed the August 27, 2007 Petition of Friends of the Barnes
Foundation and others, Montgomery County Orphans’ Court Judge
Stanley R. Ott has ordered a response from the Barnes Foundation and
Pennsylvania Attorney General in an Order dated."
Release
August 27, 2007
Friends of the Barnes Foundation Files Petition
"The Petition requests that Judge Stanley R. Ott
reopen the proceedings to examine new evidence and to rescind his previous
orders including the order granting permission to the Barnes Board
of Trustees to move the Foundation’s gallery collection to a
site in Philadelphia. The Petition further requests that Judge Ott
remove the present Board of Directors and place the Foundation in receivership."
Release
August 24, 2007
Friends Filing Petition
Friends of the Barnes Foundation will hold a press conference on
Monday, August 27 to announce the organization's filing of a Petition
to Montgomery County Orphans' Court. The Petition requests that
the court order hearings to reexamine the December 13, 2004 decision
of Judge Stanley Ott granting permission for the Foundation’s
gallery art collection to be moved from the Merion site bequeathed
by Albert Barnes to a site in Philadelphia.
Release
August 8, 2007
The Barnes and Historic Landmark status
The National Historic Landmarks Program of the National Park
Service has responded to the preliminary assessment of the Barnes Foundation
as an applicant for National Historic Landmark status, saying that
the body would “be pleased to consider the NHL eligibility of
this resource (the Barnes Foundation)…”
Release
August 4, 2007
Public Officials Urge AG Corbett to Get with the Program
In a letter to Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett, Montgomery County Board
of Commissioners Tom Ellis, Jim Matthews, and Ruth Damsker, U.S. Congressional
Representative Jim Gerlach, and Lower Merion Township Commissioner Brian Gordon
insist that Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett reexamine and reverse its
position supporting the move of the Barnes collection, in light of developments
with the County and Township that would more than satisfy the fiscal needs of
the Barnes in its current location. This letter represents and unprecedented
level of cooperation and activism by these federal, county, and local officials.
Release
June 20, 2007
Barnes Board Turns Thumbs Down on $50 Million Montco Offer
Barnes Foundation Board of Trustees Chairman Bernard Watson has refused
Montgomery County’s offer of a $50 million lease-back proposal
that was made by the County to preserve the renowned Merion cultural
site. The Barnes Board has instead decided to continue with the plan
to dismantle the famed art collection and relocate it to a site in Philadelphia,
citing prior “commitments”.
Release
June 8, 2007
Montgomery County Commissioners Hire Attorney Mark Schwartz
for Barnes Matter
The decision stems from an earlier resolution by the three-member governing
body, which stated “the Barnes Foundation is a treasured institution
and is part of the fabric, character and culture of Lower Merion Township
and Montgomery County.” Also on Thursday, a National Historical
Landmark Eligibility Overview Assessment from the Cultural Resource Consulting
Group (CRCG) reported that the Barnes site is eligible for national landmark
status as a total entity of its arboretum, gallery buildings, and art
collections.
Release
May 13, 2007
First Public Debate about the Future of the Barnes Foundation
to be held at Drexel University
Two prominent area luminaries will meet Monday, May 21 to
debate the future of the Barnes Foundation and the controversial
plan to move the art collection from the world-renowned Barnes
Foundation in Merion to a site on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
in Philadelphia.
Release
March 29, 2007
Friends of the Barnes Seek Background on Move from Pew Head
Friends of the Barnes Foundation wants to shed light on the background
of the planned move of the Barnes Foundation from Merion to Philadelphia.
Release
March 23, 2007
PA Attorney General’s Office Refuses
to Release Documents to Friends of the Barnes Foundation
In an exchange that echoes recent struggles by
the press to obtain secret records of the Pennsylvania Higher Education
Assistance Agency (PHEAA), the Office of Pennsylvania Attorney General
Tom Corbett has denied a Right to Know Request from Friends of the
Barnes Foundation.
Release
March 1, 2007
Montgomery County Commissioners to Explore Legal Options to Block
Barnes Move from Merion
The Montgomery County Commissioners have announced their decision to
seek legal means to block the current plan to move the art collection
of the world-renowned Barnes Foundation from Merion to Philadelphia.
Release
November 30, 2006
What Is Good for Dr. Gross is Good for Dr.
Barnes Friends
of the Barnes Foundation Challenge Double Standard
Friends of the Barnes Foundation, the organization
dedicated to preserving the Barnes Foundation in Merion, draws unsettling
comparisons between the proposed move of Albert Barnes’ famed
art collection and the fate of The Gross
Clinic by Thomas Eakins and urges public debate of the issue.
Release |
