Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg at the National
September 11 Memorial Museum. Keith Bedford for The Wall Street
Journal  The National September 11 Memorial Museum, which opened
to the public this week, is one of many cultural projects
championed by New York's former mayor, Michael Bloomberg.
During his 12 years in office, the Bloomberg administration
shepherded the construction of the museum. It also served as an
incubator for the Culture Shed, a planned exhibition space in
the Hudson Yards development on the West Side of Manhattan, and
a performing-arts center at the World Trade Center site—a
project that faces significant fundraising and logistical
challenges.  The 9/11 foundation faces funding hurdles as well.
It has raised more than $470 million but is now pushing for $20
million in annual federal funding to support its $63 million
operating budget.  Mr. Bloomberg remains chairman of the
foundation and last year became chairman of the Serpentine
Gallery, a contemporary-art museum in London.