In the Arts: Washington Museum Plans Balloon ‘Dome,’ Donor-Advised Fund to Manage Record Royalties

The Smithsonian Institution’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden has unveiled plans to build a $5-million, 145-foot inflatable structure to turn the doughnut-shaped building’s courtyard into a tent-like discussion space, The Washington Post reports.

The vinyl dome, which when inflated would billow above the museum’s roof, will “turn the symbolic center of the Hirshhorn into a center for international dialogue,” said Richard Koshalek, who took office as the museum’s director in April. If approved by Smithsonian officials, the structure would be built in 2011.

In other arts news, Bob Dylan is using a donor-advised fund to distribute royalties from his recently released holiday album to charity, writes The Wall Street Journal. The arrangement with Charities Aid Foundation America is believed to be the first instance of music proceeds financing through a donor-advised fund.

Also, the Utah Symphony/Utah Orchestra has received a $1-million gift from the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, The Salt Lake Tribune reports. Lisa Eccles, the foundation’s leader, said the donation was inspired by symphony musicians’ decision in October to forgo $1.3-million in salary and benefits to aid the financially strapped organization.

And the New York couple whose intimate concerts in their SoHo loft featuring some of the world’s best-known musicians have become a New York charity institution will host the last such event Wednesday before moving to San Francisco, according to The New York Times. Steven and Judy Gluckstern have raised $1.5-million over 10 years for the AIDS charity Classical Action.

(Free registration is required to view the Post and Times articles.)