An April audit outlined major findings and recently, the nonprofit's CEO retired. (Henrietta Wildsmith/The Times)
The Sci-Port Discovery Center, the financially troubled science museum on the Shreveport riverfront, apparently will not be managed by Planet Aqua Group after all.
Sci-Port announced in August that it had reached an agreement with Planet Aqua Group to take over management of the science museum. Planet Aqua Group owns and operates the recently opened Shreveport Aquarium.
The chairman of Sci-Port's board, Rich Lamb, suggested this week in response to questions from The Times that Sci-Port and Planet Aqua had ended the management agreement.
"Both parties have agreed that it makes the most sense for Planet Aqua Group to focus its efforts on enhancing the Aquarium while the Sci-Port board pursues a number of these new ideas," Lamb said in an email.
Lamb also said Sci-Port's relationship with Planet Aqua Group always was intended to take advantage of the "the synergies we believe could exist between two thriving downtown attractions."
"To date they have been very helpful and supportive in providing ideas," he said.
Lamb declined to elaborate. He said that Sci-Port's "new ideas" would be announced at Sci-Port's Toast event on Dec. 31 and that the first changes would be rolled out in early 2018.
Jake Wood, a spokesman for Planet Aqua Group, declined to say whether Sci-Port and Planet Aqua Group had ended or changed their management agreement.
He said Wednesday that the Sci-Port board of directors "is identifying any past liabilities for resolution and is continuing to source funding for remodeling." He then denied that Sci-Port and Planet Aqua Group had parted ways.
Thursday, after being shown Lamb's statement about Planet Aqua Group's management of Sci-Port, he said via email:
"Planet Aqua Group and the Sci-Port Board of Directors are continuing our aligned directive of providing entertainment through highly interactive, education based, and family friendly offerings for all who visit Downtown Shreveport.
"Beyond this, as Planet Aqua Group's relationship with Sci-Port operates under the purview of the Board of Directors, I'll defer to Mr. Lamb."
Friday, Wood again said that Sci-Port and Planet Aqua Group continued to work together.
"The agreement between Planet Aqua Group has not been terminated," he said by email. He again deferred to the Sci-Port board for specifics.
Lamb did not respond to follow-up requests for comment.
It seems clear from the Sci-Port and Planet Aqua Group statements that their relationship has changed and that the aquarium developer may no longer be managing the science museum. But what prompted the change is not clear. Nor is the nature of their continuing relationship.
Lamb's statement comes just four months after Planet Aqua Group took over management of the downtown science museum.
In July, former Sci-Port CEO and President Ann Fumarolo left the venture after a state audit found nearly $350,000 of donor funds were used for purposes other than those specified by donors.
The principals originally framed the change in Sci-Port's operational management as a rebranding from museum to attraction. Planet Aqua Group was to manage the center under a two-year contract. Seventy-two employees were laid off when Sci-Port closed in early September.
"This is an exciting announcement," Lamb said at the time. "This is a happy day. It wasn't tough negotiations. Both parties wanted to be a part of this."
Planet Aqua Group said it expected Sci-Port to reopen in early 2018 after remodeling. Sci-Port's financial troubles have been well-documented. The Community Foundation of North Louisiana board gave no money to Sci-Port in its latest competitive grant cycle in April out of concern about the use of donor funds.
Individuals did give around $44,000 to Sci-Port during the foundation’s “Give for Good” online donation day, a Community Foundation representative said at the time.
The Shreveport Aquarium opened Nov. 1, and Planet Aqua Group appears to have experienced its own financial difficulties. Subcontractors who remodeled the city-owned Barnwell Center on the riverfront to house the aquarium have filed liens totaling about $262,000, alleging they have not been paid for their work on the project.
Seven liens were filed against Planet Aqua Group/Shreveport Aquarium and Wieland-Davco, the project's general contractor.
Sci-Port, short of cash, gets a lifeline from aquarium
Sci-Port finances troubled Community Foundation of North Louisiana
72 Sci-Port employees to lose jobs in management change
Shreveport Aquarium owes $262k for unpaid work, subcontractors allege
After 60 days, Shreveport Aquarium restaurant is undergoing changes
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