Animation Museum Still Alive

Animation Museum Still Alive
Some animation professionals trying to raise $18 million to open an animation museum in a vacant social-services building have been granted six months to firm up the project.

The extension, granted by the city's Redevelopment Agency despite Mayor Bob Yousefian's skepticism, is the second given the group, whose members envision transforming a 225 E. Broadway building into a museum including a research library and archive, screening room and animation-school space.

"While progress on the design has been great, the fund-raising has been less than anticipated," said Jeanne Armstrong, city director of Development Services.

A spokesman, Frank Gladstone, assured the agency board Tuesday that museum proponents are well on their way to securing funding for a center.

They have applied for a $5 million state grant, which they hope to secure by May, and have spoken to Glendale Unified School District officials about collaboration on an animation-academy program.

Also, they have asked a major corporation to provide the funds to hire a full-time executive director whose work will be key in getting the project off the ground, Gladstone said.

"Once we prime the pump with that (hiring an executive director), we're pretty optimistic," said Gladstone, who is in charge of creative services at DreamWorks SKG. "We appreciate your