Decision on public art at Convention Center extension up in the air

The budget for the initial Convention Center project, completed 15 years ago, contained $2 million for public art. That sum, negotiated between the city and the state, eventually funded acquisition of 61 works, including sculptor Judy Pfaff's enormous cirque CIRQUE, suspended from the ceiling of the Convention Center's grand hall in the old Reading train shed.

"That's what people from all over the world remember about the city," Moss said.

Nothing even remotely like that appears to be on the table for the center's extension.

Convention Center president Young said state officials had made clear "they aren't going to authorize any commitment of funds" until construction needs had been fulfilled.

She said there had been "a myriad of suggestions" for art coming from members of the Brigham committee, but "without a budget," nothing concrete has emerged from the talks.

"Ultimately, it's the state that controls the purse strings," she said.