Here’s a blog focused on the troubles of the John Paul II Cultural Center in DC, which includes commentary on the most recent news story on the place, in today’s Detroit Free Press:

The second serious error cost the Center more than $500,000 unnecessarily. Ignoring the repeated warnings of the only professional museum staff member at a crucial phase of construction, Center executive staff and Archdiocesan officials completed work on the main "art gallery" without consideration for climate or light control (absolutely necessary in order for any works of art to be loaned and exhibited). The gallery space was open to the rest of the Center, with no way to regulate temperature, humidity and light. Before any museum or collector would allow their art to be displayed by the Center, the gallery would have to be enclosed and the unprotected windows covered – at an additional cost of over $500,000, since the space had already been completed. The first exhibit planned for the opening of the Center was of artworks from the Vatican museums; the Vatican would not allow the Center to hang art works until the windows were covered and the gallery retrofitted. The first installation of art work proceeded with the Center forced to cover each painting with black plastic until the problem was rectified.