For an upcoming museum conference I am researching the effects of the budget cuts for museums.  My purpose is to find ways to deal with and work around the lack of funds so that cultural institutions can stay afloat. I am asking that you please fill out my questionnaire so that my results can be as diverse and informative as possible.  This survey can be very useful for all of us!

Thank you,

Bethany Day

Buffalo State College

Questionnaire for Surviving the Budget Cuts:

Name of Institution (optional): _____________________

1.      How has your museum/institution adjusted to the cuts put in place by the government?

  My institution cut back on staff believing it would cut operating costs, as the 20% of operating costs covered by the local government will be dropped to 10%.

2.      What areas/departments do the budget cuts affect the most?

Grantwriting, fundraising, public relations, donor relations, and donation tracking, all formerly done by the cut staff.

3.      How has hiring been affected?

  No hiring was contemplated before the cuts were announced.

4.      Has the focus of your museum changed (perhaps more towards marketing or financing)?

  The focus is now completely focused on internal finances and searching for sources of financing.

5.      Has availability of grants been affected?  Is there more competition involved in the application process?

  Availability of grants has not changed. What has changed is availability of trained staff to write grants. There is a great deal more competition, particularly from arts agencies who formerly did not operate with grant income, but with individual benefactors.

6.      Has your museum seen a drop in donations or contributions?

  Yes, renewing members renew at a lesser category, and generous donors cut back the amounts of their donations.

7.      What steps are being taken to lower your institutions operating costs?

  Utilities consumption has been lowered.  The only full time staff person (me) was abruptly cut to half time and half activities.

8.      How has museum attendance been affected?  Are there more or less people visiting your museum?  Are membership subscriptions being affected?

  Attendance is actually up, since in the past we have not been open during winter. Summer will tell the true story.  Membership subscriptions are down, related to staff activities being halted so the membership drive was not undertaken or supported by the governing board.

9.      Has collection development been affected by the slash in funding? Have deaccessions of objects been necessary to gain money for operating costs?  Have galleries been closed or hours of operation been cut to lower the operating budget?

  No to all.

10..   How has the lack of funding affected educational programming?

  Our educational programming is grant supported. The current year grant is due next week. The grantwriting activity has been cut from the only remaining staff’s job description. I would say that educational programming will be affected by lack of funding.

  Please feel free to leave any extra opinions or information about the budget cuts in museums that you believe will help!  Thank you!

In my humble opinion, I believe a governing board should consult with its staff about what activities to cut in order to save money.  It is quite possible that the staff, who are in the museum daily and control daily operations, will know where cuts would have the most immediate and long-lasting benefits.  Trust me on this: it is foolhardy to save money by cutting the fundraising staff.  Will that help?