For the Elisabet Ney Museum:

Instructions for submitting grant to the Eugene McDermott Foundation

Collected by Elana Barton, Ashleigh Knopp, and Anna Robinson
Student project for INF 392G, University of Texas, December 2013


Documents include:

Letter of Inquiry
The McDermott Foundation does not have a deadline. To initiate the process, submit the Letter of Inquiry
to the following address:

The Eugene McDermott Foundation
ATTN: Mary McDermott Cook
3808 Euclid Ave.
Dallas, TX 75205-3102

For any clarification regarding submission, contact Foundation President, Mary McDermott, at (214)
521-2924.

Application
If chosen for consideration, the Foundation will reply with instructions for formal submission. The
enclosed Grant Application may be adapted to fit the application requirements.



Elisabet Ney Museum
304 East 44th Street
Austin, TX 78751
(512) 458-2255

December 2, 2013
Mary McDermott Cook
The Eugene McDermott Foundation
3808 Euclid Avenue
Dallas, TX 75205-3102

Dear Mrs. Cook,

This letter is to introduce the Elisabet Ney Museum and ask you to consider supporting our LED
light replacement project.

The Elisabet Ney Museum is an iconic monument in Austin, Texas, commemorating the German
sculpturess who moved to Texas in 1872. She and her husband, Edmund Montgomery, were
influential among artistic, medical, and academic communities. Ney produced several portraits
and sculptures of important Texan figures, and her statues of Stephen F. Austin and Sam
Houston are displayed in both the Texas Capitol and the United States Capitol. Built in 1892 as
Neys art studio in the Hyde Park suburb, the building of the Elisabet Ney Museum is a historical
artifact unto itself. The museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and
alterations for preservation of the collection are restricted in order to retain the historical value of
the building. An ongoing restoration project includes physical improvements to the building,
such as a complete roof replacement in June 2013.

As a continuation of the restoration project, the Ney museum requires modern, undamaging
lighting. Currently, the gallery space is lit by 120-watt halogen incandescent bulbs for five hours,
five days each week, producing ineffective lighting that does little to complement Neys artwork.
Instead, these inefficient lights increase heat and harmful UV rays, fading the textiles and
original wooden pedestals on exhibit.

Transitioning to LED lighting in exhibit and collections spaces will reduce the internal heat
fluctuations and damaging effects caused by the current bulb and reduce electrical consumption.
These effects are long term, and reduced heat can be measured over time by statistics gathered
by data loggers installed in the Museum in January 2013. However, it is the visible changes in
the museum that will define the immediate success of the LED installation. LEDs will heighten
visitor experience by allowing the control to create even lighting and color balance in the exhibit
space, enhancing details of Neys artwork not seen in incandescent lighting.

Leading the project for light replacement is our Collections Manager, Frank Wick. Mr. Wick
previously worked in exhibition installation at the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History in
Oklahoma. His work at Noble Museum required conservation oversight for permanent and
traveling exhibits and attending conferences regarding best practices and trends in museum
exhibition. He will work with specialists from Austin Parks and Recreation Department to
conduct installation of lights and operations.

The Elisabet Ney Museum has successfully undergone renovations to update the building while
maintaining the historical integrity as a listed member of the National Register of Historic Places.
The staff is dedicated to preserving Neys artwork and personal belongings, educating visitors
from around the world about an important woman in Austin and Texas history. We would like to
submit a proposal to the Eugene McDermott Foundation for $2,903.82 of support in of our goal
to update the museums lighting system. With the Foundations assistance, visitors can
experience Neys artwork under the superior, efficient lighting of LEDS.

Sincerely,



Oliver Franklin
Museum Director & Site Manager

The Eugene McDermott Foundation Common Grant Application

A. NARRATIVE

1. Executive Summary
The Elisabet Ney Museum is an iconic monument in Austin, Texas, commemorating the German
sculpturess who moved to Texas in 1872. She and her husband, Edmund Montgomery, were
influential among artistic, medical, and academic communities. Ney produced several portraits
and sculptures of important Texan figures, and her statues of Stephen F. Austin and Sam
Houston are displayed in both the Texas Capitol and the United States Capitol. The building of
the Elisabet Ney Museum is a historical artifact unto itself. Built in 1892, it was originally
intended as Miss Neys art studio in the early development of the Hyde Park suburb. The
museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and alterations for preservation of
the collection are restricted in order to retain the historical value of the building. An ongoing
restoration project involves returning the museum and its surrounding landscape to its original
make-up, and includes physical improvements to the building, such as a complete roof
replacement in June 2013.

Lighting in the museum consists of 104 halogen incandescent lamps and 16 florescent bulbs. The
florescent bulbs are located in work areas and storage, and all exhibition areas are lit by halogen
incandescent lamps. Halogen lights emit more heat than light, and the UV rays are harmful to
wood, paint, photographic, and textile objects. Transitioning to LED lighting in exhibit and
collections spaces will reduce the internal heat fluctuations caused by halogen incandescent
bulbs and reduce electrical consumption for both maintaining the lights and countering their heat
effects. Not only do LEDs emit zero UV rays, but their installation in art museums has been
successful for display aesthetic as well as reducing harmful emissions. These effects are long
term, and reduced heat can be measured through environmental data loggers installed in the
Museum since January, 2013.

The primary priority for funds is the purchase of LED lights, which are cost-efficient, but
represent a significant initial investment. Subsidy for labor costs for installation is also requested.

2. Purpose of Grant
The Elisabet Ney Museums building and collections are objects of Texas art history and a
monument to the early development of Hyde Park. Visitors include art and history classes from
local schools and the University of Texas at Austin, families from the community, researchers,
and international tourists. It is a particular attraction for researchers and tourists interested in
Texass German community. The Museum hosts many educational and community events in
celebration of Texass creative culture and history. Entrance to the exhibits and events is free,
and further preservation actions will ensure that future generations will benefit from the history
of Elisabet Ney and her contributions to Texas history.

Gallery space at the Ney Museum is lit by 120 watt halogen incandescent bulbs for five straight
hours, five days each week. Of consumed energy, incandescent bulbs produce, on average, only
5% into light. The remaining energy emits heat, placing additional burden on an already taxed
environmental control system. Fluccuations in environment are harmful to artifacts, particularly
for temperature. UV rays in the current lighting system are harmful for the wooden composition
of the building and wooden artifacts as well as the paintings, photos, and textiles on display.

This project would replace these high-consumption and high-heat producing bulbs with LED
retro-fit lamps to reduce temperature fluctuation in the museum gallery as well as energy
consumption and maintenance. LED lights emit no UV rays and almost no heat and can also be
managed automatically by computer to ensure exact run time. Although the initial purchase of
LED lamps is high, estimated energy use is 14% less and life span 10% longer than halogen
bulbs.

Replacing the lights requires acquisition and installation. Upon installation, the lights have an
estimated 50,000 hour life expectancy and require less maintenance than the existing
incandescent bulbs. The Museum operates through the Austin Parks and Recreation Department
and will arrange design and installation specialists through the City of Austin.

Several renowned museums have installed LEDs in their exhibition spaces, including the
Smithsonian, Getty Art Museum, and Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. The Schnitzer Museum
hosted a study conducted by the Department of Energy GATEWAY Demonstration
1
program
comparing the appearance of displays under four different lightings, including three LED
clusters and halogen lamps. Observers included museum staff and visitors. In study surveys,
LED samples were judged to provide equivalent, or improved, lighting for artwork. In
implementation, the gallery saw an 86% reduction of energy consumption.

Leading the project for light replacement is Collections Manager Frank Wick. Wick previously
worked in exhibition installation at the Sam Noble Museum Of Natural History in Oklahoma.
His work at Noble Museum required conservation oversight of permanent and traveling exhibits
and attending conferences regarding best practices and trends in museum exhibition. He will
work with specialists from Austin Parks and Recreation Department to conduct installation of
lights and operations.


1
Demonstration of LED Retrofit Lamps in the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory, 2011.
http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/ssl/2011_gateway_schnitzer.pdf
3. Evaluation
The immediate benefits of the LED lights include increased brightness and color consistency, as
well as decreased heat emitted in the exhibit spaces. The success of these characteristics will be
determined by the museum staff as they gain control over exhibit lighting and preservation. The
Collections Manager will monitor the heat reduction using the museums hoboware data loggers,
as mentioned above. While the reduced heat and energy costs can be measured over time, it is
the visible changes in the museum that will define the immediate success of the LED installation.
LEDs will heighten visitor experience by allowing the control to create even lighting and color
balance in the exhibit space, enhancing details of Elisabet Neys artwork not seen in
incandescent lighting. Museum visitors will be more able to admire and appreciate Neys works
of art under brighter the LED light, which will also be less harmful to the art pieces and artifacts
in the collection.

The long-term benefits of LEDs include longer lifetime, less maintenance, and reduction of
environmental effects over time. While these are not necessarily easily measured over a short
length of time such as that of the Clements Foundation grant, this one-time physical upgrade will
greatly reduce cost and waste for the museum. The operational costs will be diminished for the
museum and although the Ney does not directly pay for electricity, the value of LEDs
sustainably will benefit the city of Austin by lowing electricity costs by as much as half
2
and by
going green, a value many Austin locals and visitors applaud. For example, it is expected that
there will be reduced electricity costs and cooling costs in the summer because for every three
watts of power saved in operational costs with LEDs, one watt is saved from HVAC operational
costs.
3


4. Budget Narrative/Justification
Budget Item Amount Subtotal
Personnel
Contracted licensed electricial. 24 hours (3 days)
installation labor costs x $75/hr
$1,800.00
Direct Costs
LED gu10 Spotlight style bulbs: $3.00
4
each x 104 bulbs $312.00
20W LED T8 tube lights: $32.99
5
each x 16 tubes $527.84
Total Expenses $2,639.84
Overhead (10%) $263.98
Total Requested $2,903.82


2
As seen in the Field Museums Booker Gallery electricity operating cost going from $292.13 with a
halogen system to #116.99 with an LED system. Druzik, James R. and Stefan W. Michalski. Guidelines
for Selecting Solid-State Lighting for Museums, pp. 16. Canadian Conservation Institute and The Getty
Conservation Institute.
3
Druzik, James R. and Stefan W. Michalski. Guidelines for Selecting Solid-State Lighting for
Museums, pp. 9. Canadian Conservation Institute and The Getty Conservation Institute.
4
Found on dhgate.com
5
Found on t8tubes.com
The first item on the budget accounts for the installation costs for an electrician to replace the
lights. This estimate is based on the average cost of a contracted licensed electrician in the
Austin area. The second item is to replace the incandescent lights in the building, of which there
are 104. The cost is determined by the cost of wholesale lights and multiplied by the number
needed. The third item is the cost of LED tube-style lights to replace the florescent tube lights, of
which there are 16 in the building. The cost is determined by again, finding a price for wholesale
lights and multiplying by the number needed.

At this time, no other funds for this project are being requested from other sources.

The priority items are the bulbs, and labor costs are secondary.

5. Organization Information
The Elisabet Ney Museum is the former studio and portrait collection created by 19th century
sculptor Elisabet Ney. The museum offers a range of community events and works with faculty
at the University of Texas at Austin to provide special tours and study for students. It is a part of
Austin Culture and History, a subsidiary of Austin Parks and Recreation Department. The
Museum employs three staff members who manage collections, visitor services, educational
programs, and community events.

The City of Austins mission is for Austin to be the most livable community in the country.
Austin Parks and Recreation Department serves the community of Austin by preserving the
citys history and promoting quality recreation. The Elisabet Ney Museum serves these missions
by preserving the memory and legacy of Elisabet Ney for educational, historical, and artistic
purposes. The Museum is currently implementing a restoration plan to recover the original,
native landscape surrounding the Ney studio and to address structural concerns while preserving
the historic integrity of the building.