February 7, 2002 | Read Time: 1 minute
Many art museums faced tough financial times last year, in part because the terrorist attacks caused declines in visitors and fund raising, a new report says.
Sixty-five of the 134 museums that provided data for the report by the Association of Art Museum Directors said their overall revenue had declined in the three months following September 11 compared to the earlier part of the year, while 20 art museums said revenue was about the same and 46 said it had increased.
The financial problems have already taken a toll on staffing and programs at many museums. Nearly a third of the respondents said they have reduced or plan to reduce their number of employees, and 34 have cut or plan to cut programs.
While last year was difficult, the outlook for 2002 appears to be brightening, especially as visitors who stayed away from galleries in the months immediately following the terrorist attacks appear to be returning — and providing revenue in admission fees and restaurant and store purchases. According to the report, about three-quarters of the art museums said the number of visitors had rebounded, held steady, or even increased.
A further sign of optimism: Of the 102 art museums that said they had expansion plans in the works, all but two reported that they are moving ahead with those projects.
Copies of the survey will be available at the Web site of Resnicow Schroeder Associates, which conducted the survey, at http://www.resnicowschroeder.com, or from the company, at 180 West 80th Street, New York, N.Y. 10024.
