The Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh is updating its guidelines and procedures on renting its space to outside groups after coming under fire for allowing Pennsylvania Sen. Dave McCormick to host a private, $5,000-a-plate dinner there last month.
Its events page clearly states: “Carnegie Museums does not accept bookings for partisan political events or fundraisers, including voter education, registration and get-out-the-vote drives led by partisan groups.” It also says that it has the right to decline or cancel bookings …“because of concerns regarding property damage, safety risks, legal liability and/or reputational harm to Carnegie Museums.”
Following the dinner, dozens of museum employees penned a letter to museum trustees claiming that the July 15 fundraiser violated guidelines meant to safeguard the institution from partisan activities, as reported by The New York Times. There also has been outcry on local social media channels, with some posters threatening to cancel their museum memberships…