For those wondering why museums are laying off staff due to COVID 19 closures and why it’s estimated that up to a 1/3 of US museums may be unable to reopen when this is over... I hope this helps you understand. 1/5

Most museums (50-60%) operate on budgets under $500k/year. They rely on earned revenues (tickets, shops etc) &donations. Most don’t have Gov’t funding beyond grants. Even in the best situations, endowments only account for 10-15% of funding & 90% don’t have cash reserves. 2/5

If there’s no way to earn revenues, donors are skittish and/or themselves aren’t working, markets fluctuating wildly which impacts corporate and foundation grants or major donor funds, where does the money to operate come from? 3/5

Larger museums with all these things available, are still squeezed if people aren’t coming to visit or giving at the same level. Museum operating models require at least 50-70% of funding from those earned or raised funds. That’s how it works in the US... 4/5

This operating model started in the 80s. Even the Smithsonian in the late 80s was forced to fundraise and shift from its 100% government funded model.

We’re all hurting & trying to get through this... some of us will but we’ll be vastly different. 5/5