The Battle For Ground Zero, Part XVI

The Drawing Center wants to have complete artistic freedom in order to remain at the WTC Cultural Center.

The Lower Manhattan Development Corp. wants to keep a controversial SoHo gallery in the planned Ground Zero cultural center - but the gallery director says it won't stay unless it has complete artistic freedom.
"The LMDC knows that we would never be able to accept censorship," Catherine de Zegher, director of the Drawing Center, told Crain's New York Business. "Now they have to come to us with their decision."

The gallery and the rebuilding agency have been scrambling since late last month, when Gov. Pataki demanded that arts groups given spots at Ground Zero promise the LMDC to "respect the sanctity of that site," adding that if not, "they shouldn't be there."

This isn't about censorship. The Drawing Center doesn't have to be at Ground Zero. Their artists have other outlets that can display whatever they want. The Drawing Center's selection to be at Ground Zero was extending them the privilege of being there, with all the rights and responsibilities that come with that selection. The Drawing Center has made it clear that they will act precisely in the manner that Debra Burlingame and others have warned.
The NY Post has a similar story today.

The Times is characteristically silent about the issue. Their coverage is one again lagging with respect to WTC development issues, and when it does provide coverage, it does so with an agenda that is anti-development. I guess it's a blessing in disguise that the Times hasn't chimed in.