APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) – The loss of funding for the arts has affected countless public history/art museums nationwide, and one iconic spot in Appleton is working hard to locate sources so it can continue doing more than just regular operation.
Executive Director George Schroeder said they found out about the cuts from news outlets, and he cited concerns especially for smaller museums, with funding cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and other services.
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“It creates chaos, if not uncertainty, for all small and medium-sized institutions that deal with the arts nationwide,” Schroeder said. “We’re in pretty good shape, we’re not dependent on federal money, but we felt pretty good about a grant from the IMLS this year or next, but now it has evaporated.”
Schroeder cited that federal cuts are creating a massive competition among institutions to earn state and/or local funding.
“Everything has become ultra competitive, and when you’ve got more institutions than usual chasing a limited number of funds, somebody’s not going to get funded,” Schroeder said. “That’s going to be a horror story.”
Schroeder said the museum must seek new revenue and funding sources. 63% of the museum’s revenue comes from tours and events, something many small museums would likely envy, he added.
“It puts us in a pretty good position, but that still leaves about a third of our budget without funding,” Schroeder said. “Without these sources, it means we have to work just that much harder and be that much more creative, asking donors for help.”
Schroeder said that any bit helps, especially as grants are critical for the museum, as it helps them teach outside of the museum, like welcoming Appleton Area School District students with on-site programming and free presentations at public libraries.’
“Operation Everybody is a program we started last year, and we want to ensure every student gets to come to this museum at least once in their elementary school careers,” Schroeder said.
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Operation Everybody allows students at the district to not only visit the museum for free as a field trip, but it also pays for the busing to get them to the site.
Those grants also support their ‘Museums 4 All’ program which provides free admission for SNAP card holders, along with anybody at the Appleton, Menasha or Neenah Public Libraries to get free entry with a library card, Schroeder added.
