President McCullough says Florida State making the case for keeping Ringling museum
The wheels may be in motion to give New College of Florida oversight of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art , but Florida State University President Richard McCullough is making the case to keep it under the Garnet and Gold.
"We, of course, desire to keep The Ringling, and we'll do everything we can to make that clear," McCullough said Wednesday during a virtual Faculty Senate meeting.
His brief thoughts on the possible change come after the university was decidedly quiet on Gov. Ron DeSantis' plan to pull the museum from FSU governance and move it to New College. Both the museum and the college are in Sarasota.
The surprise move was revealed earlier this month by DeSantis in his recommended budget to lawmakers . If lawmakers decide to include his proposal in the 2025-26 state budget, it could put the jobs of The Ringling's current employees – including its five FSU faculty members – in jeopardy.
Under the governor's plan, all duties, responsibilities and state financial obligations for The Ringling would be transferred to New College, which includes the art museum, the Ca' d'Zan and the Ringling Museum of the Circus. New College would take over Aug. 1.
Previous coverage: FSU is silent amid call for new oversight of The Ringling, which could put jobs at risk
McCullough: 'We'll see what happens'
Robin Goodman, the United Faculty of Florida's FSU Chapter president and a professor at FSU's Department of English, asked McCullough to comment on what's going on with The Ringling Museum. That was during the Wednesday meeting and after an address the university president gave faculty members on the effects of potential federal funding changes.
"The worst thing I can say is that if the state and the Legislature wanted to take The Ringling and move it to New College, they have the right to do that because we're a state agency," McCullough said. "But it requires a lot of approval from a lot of people, so we'll see what happens with all of that."
Contrary to McCullough, New College President and DeSantis ally Richard Corcoran is in favor of the governor's efforts, saying that the potential transfer has its benefits .
"Moving The Ringling from FSU in Tallahassee to New College's stewardship on its neighboring property is not just logical. It ensures the museum's legacy remains deeply intertwined with Sarasota's cultural and educational future," Corcoran said in an opinion column published by the Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer this week.
"While this transition strengthens local stewardship, it also opens new doors for collaboration with other institutions across Florida, expanding research partnerships, student engagement and statewide academic initiatives in the arts and humanities," he added.
What is The Ringling museum? What's its connection to FSU?
FSU assumed leadership of The Ringling in 2000, making the facility one of the largest university art museums in the nation. Although it is located near New College of Florida's campus in Sarasota, it is operated as part of the FSU College of Fine Arts .
FSU also operates the FSU Center for the Performing Arts, which is the home to Asolo Repertory Theatre, The Sarasota Ballet and the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training. The university has long ties to the theater company. Asolo Rep was started by faculty and students at FSU in 1960, and the university has operated the graduate acting program in Sarasota for more than 50 years.
Students enrolled in the FSU College of Fine Art's master's program in Museum and Cultural Heritage Studies complete their first year on FSU's main campus in Tallahassee.
Then they get hands-on experience at The Ringling in Sarasota during their second year in the program, where they take additional graduate-level courses.
McCullough explained to the Faculty Senate Wednesday that FSU has multiple programs tied to the Ringling through its College of Fine Arts.
But even if a change is made pertaining to who governs the museum, he assured the professors that "all of those programs would remain viable and continue on."
Amid the efforts, FSU's Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. Friday Feb. 28 following committee meetings Thursday, where they will consider approving bylaw revisions and Board of Directors nominations for the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Foundation.
Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on X: @tarahjean_ .
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU president at odds with Gov. DeSantis over Ringling museum plans
