Montco's about-face on Barnes Museum

The Lower Merion commissioners propose to sweeten the pot July 18 by voting to finally lift some of the restrictions on daily visitors that have held back the fees the Barnes can collect.

Township Commissioner Bruce Gordon said the current restriction is 400 visitors per day, three days a week. The plan would let the museum be open six days a week, with a daily limit of 450 visitors - plus 100 students.

U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach additionally has proposed giving federal status to the Barnes as a national historic landmark. He says that would enable it to apply for federal arts support.

None of this is even close to being enough to make the Barnes reconsider its move, according to the foundation leadership.

Barnes President Derek Gillman said Friday he could not foresee the Barnes reopening talks to remain in Merion.

He said the county's plan appeared to offer little more than what the Barnes could gain by taking out a mortgage, which it has no plans to do.

He said the Barnes also needs major philanthropic support, such as the $150 million that three Philadelphia foundations have pledged to raise for it. He said that help is only available if the museum moves to the Parkway.

"We are very much focused on moving on," he said.

County and township officials held a news conference Thursday to plead their case for the Barnes to remain. Joining them was Herman, the Barnes neighbor, who helped lead opposition to the expansion plans in the 1990s.

He said he hadn't done a turnabout. He said he loved the Barnes as is, and didn't want anything to change its essential character.

"I've been opposed to what the Barnes has been doing for a long time," he said. "Basically, they have been trying to ruin the place."