star wars creator scraps chicago museum plan
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

'Star Wars' creator scraps Chicago museum plan

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today 'Star Wars' creator scraps Chicago museum plan

Chicago lured "Star Wars" creator George Lucas there in 2014
Chicago - AFP

For George Lucas, Chicago might as well be a galaxy far, far away. 

The "Star Wars" creator invented an entire sci-fi universe and multibillion-dollar empire. But he could not manage to build his legacy museum in the US city.

Thwarted by local politics, the 72-year-old filmmaker said Friday that the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art would now be built somewhere in California. 

Lucas had planned to spend some $700 million of his own fortune to build the museum on prime real estate along Lake Michigan, which the city offered to lease for 99 years at a price of $10.

That plan, which would have seen the museum replace a parking lot, went awry soon after it was announced in 2014 when a local preservation group sued to prevent construction. 

The group contended that the museum, which would have replaced a parking lot, should be built at another site away from the lakefront, which is considered land reserved for public use. 

Lucas on Friday strongly criticized the group's stance. 

"No one benefits from continuing their seemingly unending litigation to protect a parking lot," he said in a statement.

The filmmaker had hoped to display his formidable art collection that focuses on narrative forms such as comic art, photography, film, and magazine illustrations, as well as "Star Wars" memorabilia. 

The museum also would have included his collection of paintings by Norman Rockwell - the celebrated 20th century master illustrator of everyday American life.

But plans were stopped in their tracks when US District Judge John Darrah refused to dismiss the case against Lucas, saying there was a persuasive argument that the proposed museum would "impair public interest in the land." 

Attempts to negotiate between the parties soon thereafter stalled.

Within minutes of Lucas' announcement Friday, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel lamented the loss of "a gift worth approximately $1.5 billion." 

"Chicago's loss will be another city's gain," Emanuel said in a statement. "This missed opportunity has not only cost us what will be a world-class cultural institution, it has cost thousands of jobs for Chicago workers, millions of dollars in economic investment and countless educational opportunities for Chicago's youth." 

Juanita Irizarry, executive director of Friends of the Parks, the group that brought the suit, reiterated that point. 

"It is unfortunate that the Lucas Museum has made the decision to leave Chicago rather than locate the museum on one of the several alternative sites that are not on Chicago's lakefront," Irizarry said.

The lakefront was supposed to have been one of the museum's key draws, putting it in close proximity to other institutions with which it hoped to collaborate, including the Art Institute of Chicago. 

Lucas' previous efforts to build the museum on federal parkland in San Francisco also failed

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

star wars creator scraps chicago museum plan star wars creator scraps chicago museum plan

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

star wars creator scraps chicago museum plan star wars creator scraps chicago museum plan

 



GMT 16:52 2017 Tuesday ,21 February

Iraqi troops push into Daesh-held southern

GMT 10:50 2017 Tuesday ,05 December

Technip lands Bahrain refinery mega contract

GMT 08:12 2017 Monday ,10 April

Minister receives School Mini Olympics winners

GMT 13:15 2017 Thursday ,31 August

Al-Basher Arrives in the Holy Land

GMT 18:19 2017 Tuesday ,17 October

Producers' group moves to expel Weinstein

GMT 13:00 2015 Sunday ,18 October

DEWA participates in 11th Women’s Forum in France

GMT 15:48 2017 Wednesday ,22 February

GOIC Encourages Paper Industry in GCC States

GMT 02:41 2016 Tuesday ,08 November

US, Turkey COS held talks on Syria, Iraq

GMT 23:18 2017 Wednesday ,22 November

HRH Premier lauds Bahrain's ability to host major events
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday