Editorial: Valley’s cultural shift

Sunday, Oct. 7, 2007 | 7:22 a.m.

Las Vegas' arts community has for some years been emerging from the shadows, whether with the plans for the performing arts center downtown or the Arts District.

Adding to that was the recent announcement by the Las Vegas Art Museum on its future, as reported Thursday in the Las Vegas Sun by Kristen Peterson. In 2009 the museum, which occupies space in the Summerlin library, plans to move to the old All-American SportsPark on Sunset Road, just off Las Vegas Boulevard South. The move will quadruple its exhibition space and will put it closer to the Strip and the 40 million people who visit each year.

Museum Executive Director Libby Lumpkin said the eventual goal is to "be recognized as a significant museum by the international community."

That may sound farfetched, but why does it have to be? Las Vegas is internationally known as a tourist destination, so why not for art?

The museum has done a good job attracting top-notch work, and we hope the new location will give the museum the space and prominence it needs to move closer to its goal. However far the museum gets, it will only enhance the quality of life in Las Vegas by bringing more vibrance to the culture.

Bravo.