'Body Worlds' exhibit called a big success

More than 290,000 people visited The Leonardo over the past four months to view Gunther von Hagens' "Body Worlds 3 & The Story of the Heart," making it one of the most well-attended traveling exhibitions ever in Utah, museum officials said.

Featuring more than 200 human bodies, the popular exhibit attracted visitors from all 50 states and some foreign countries. More than 26,000 students from kindergarten to high school attended the exhibit, including groups from 27 out-of-state schools.

Leonardo spokeswoman Lisa Davis said the exhibit was a financial success, though revenue totals are still being calculated. It also served as a profitable training exercise for The Leonardo, the work-in-progress art, science and culture center in the old Salt Lake City library building, 209 E. 500 South.

"The incredible response from this community shows that we are ready for a full-time science and art center here in our capital city," said Peter Giles, The Leonardo's executive director.

Whether The Leonardo will continue to occupy the Salt Lake City-owned building will depend heavily on a review of the museum's latest business plan. An out-of-state consultant familiar with arts and science centers is evaluating the plan.

Based on the consultant's findings, Mayor Ralph Becker is expected to make recommendations about the building's reuse to the Salt Lake City Council early next month.

"We're confident that The Leonardo will move forward with these plans to open permanently on Library Square," Giles said.

The City Council is refusing to release $10.2 million in voter-approved bond money for The Leonardo until the city is presented with a viable business plan.

City attorneys say the council is not obligated to issue the funds because the two sides never agreed upon the scope of building improvements for the former library.

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E-mail: jpage@desnews.com

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