TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Aquarium of the Pacific that will allow the Aquarium to display the "From Sea to Shining Sea: 200 Years of Charting America's Coasts" exhibit from October 4, 2007 through December 7, 2007.
DISCUSSION
In recognition of the landmark 200th anniversary of the establishment of the Survey of the Coast, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) created the exhibit, "From Sea to Shining Sea: 200 Years of Charting America's Coasts". The exhibit opened on June 21 at the EI Dorado Branch Library and was displayed through August 30.
The City of Long Beach was one of two-hundred cities across the nation that was selected to host the exhibit by the Smithsonian Institute after Councilwoman Schipske completed an on-line application. Long Beach was selected, and as such, is allowed to keep the collection on a permanent basis, provided that the artwork is displayed in public.
Councilwoman Schipske has discussed transferring the exhibit to The Aquarium of the Pacific, where it will be displayed through December 7, 2007. The Aquarium of the Pacific has worked with NOAA on many projects, including the National Marine Sanctuaries on the Aquarium's Whales: A Journey with Giants media experience in 2005 and NOAA's Office of Education on hosting the western regional conference on ocean literacy in 2006. Through the exhibit, the Aquarium's regional audience of school children as well as general visitors will have a new opportunity to learn about the history of coastal surveys in addition to the 12,500 life marine creatures at the Aquarium.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
Gerrie Schipske, Councilwoman, Fifth District