The Biennial of the Americas debuted amid a swirl of publicity and big promises from the mayor and other local officials and ended comparatively quietly July 31, leaving the inevitable question: What’s next?
The multifaceted event, a kind of mini-world’s fair that combined a series of international roundtable discussions with a cross-cultural contemporary art exhibition in the partially renovated McNichols Building, spanned the month of July.
Although the event did not generate quite the national or international attention organizers had hoped for, the exhibition drew an average of 200 to 300 people a day, and the roundtables had audiences of as many as 1,000 people.
It was at least a modest success, but now, it’s time to look to the future. To that end, here are five key questions:
1. Will the month-long Biennial of the Americas be back in 2012? Short answer: No.
Long answer: The city was barely able to pull off this first event, squandering nearly two years before serious preparations began in earnest late last year. It was able to raise only $2.5 million for the project, which had to be scaled down considerably from what was originally planned. Skepticism abounded in the arts community and elsewhere beforehand, and doubts remain.
2. If the Biennial does return in 2012, will it return in the same form?
Short answer: No.
Long answer: Expectations will be much higher for a second installment, which will need to be bigger and better. That probably means a budget at least twice what it was this time out — closer to the $5 million to $6 million originally projected. And next time, organizers will not be able to use what turned into a ridiculously short planning period or the challenges of starting something new as excuses for any shortcomings.
3. Given higher expectations, will Biennial organizers be able to raise the necessary funds for 2012?Short answer: Maybe.
Long answer: For all the talk of sponsorships and fundraising over the past eight months or so, by far the largest chunk of the event’s budget — $2 million — was raised in 2008 and came from the Boettcher Foundation. Accompanying the grant was additional seed money of $250,000 for 2012. But repeating the Biennial will likely depend on whether that foundation is willing to come forward with another $2 million for 2012 and perhaps even more. If it isn’t, what other entity is going to be willing to pony up as lead donor? There are no obvious candidates. On the plus side, a potential surplus of as much as $450,000 from this year’s budget could also provide a financial head start for 2012.
4. Can the Biennial continue if Mayor John Hickenlooper, a Democratic candidate for governor, is elected to that post in the fall?
Short answer: No.
Long answer: The Biennial was in many ways the vision of Hickenlooper, and he was a key advocate and supporter of the project all along the way. It’s hard to imagine any successor having the same enthusiasm for the event. In addition, a key Hickenlooper appointee, Erin Trapp, who shepherded the Biennial as director of Denver’s Office of Cultural Affairs, would likely no longer be in that position.
5. If Hickenlooper winds up losing the governor’s race and earning a third term as mayor, would he have the same commitment to the Biennial?
Short answer: Probably not.
Long answer. Hickenlooper’s focus will almost inevitably be elsewhere. The city is facing huge financial challenges, chief among them a potential 2011 budget shortfall of $100 million. In addition, it will be difficult politically to promote another Biennial in the face of impending cuts to crucial city services, regardless whether the event is privately funded.
Kyle MacMillan: 303-954-1675 or kmacmillan@denverpost.com
