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THE MUSEUM THREAD: The pandemic has utterly decimated the Arts & Culture sector as a whole, which accounts for $877 Billion (4.5%) of our nation’s GDP and 5.1 Million workers, but let’s do a little deep dive on its impact on our nation’s museums. #NASAA https://nasaa-arts.org/nasaa_research/creative-economy-state-profiles/
America’s museums are huge economic drivers, contributing $50 Billion to the GDP and 726,200 jobs.
@AAMers
https://www.aam-us.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/American-Alliance-of-Museums-web.pdf
@AAMers
https://www.aam-us.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/American-Alliance-of-Museums-web.pdf
A reminder that 68% of tourism is Cultural and that those who travel for Cultural events or to visit Cultural spaces spend nearly 2x as much as other tourists. Cultural tourists stay longer and spend more.
@Americans4Arts
https://www.americansforthearts.org/sites/default/files/pdf/2015/international/11.%20Foreign%20Visitors.pdf
@Americans4Arts
https://www.americansforthearts.org/sites/default/files/pdf/2015/international/11.%20Foreign%20Visitors.pdf
But museums are in crisis. Due to the pandemic, ⅓ of surveyed museums were “not confident” they will be able to survive.
@AAMers https://www.aam-us.org/2020/07/22/a-snapshot-of-us-museums-response-to-the-covid-19-pandemic/
@AAMers https://www.aam-us.org/2020/07/22/a-snapshot-of-us-museums-response-to-the-covid-19-pandemic/
56% of surveyed museums have less than six months left to cover operations. Nearly ¼, or 23% have 3 months or less.
@AAMers
https://www.aam-us.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2020_National-Survey-of-COVID19-Impact-on-US-Museums.pdf
@AAMers
https://www.aam-us.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2020_National-Survey-of-COVID19-Impact-on-US-Museums.pdf
This crisis has inspired mass layoffs & furloughs which disproportionately affects BIPOC museum workers. “Layoffs did not impact senior staff at all. So, they are not equitable at all, especially as management and senior staff is largely white.” @artnet https://news.artnet.com/art-world/widespread-museum-layoffs-1889770
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the largest museum in the United States has cited a deficit of $150 Million and has laid off approximately 20% of its workforce.
@SenGillibrand @SenSchumer
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/metropolitan-museum-of-art-layoffs-furloughs-coronavirus-reopening-1202696143/
@metmuseum
@SenGillibrand @SenSchumer
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/metropolitan-museum-of-art-layoffs-furloughs-coronavirus-reopening-1202696143/
@metmuseum
The Science Museum of Minnesota has laid off 40% of its staff. They’ve already reported $10 Million in revenue lost, with a total projected loss of $20 million by summer 2021.
@sciencemuseummn @amyklobuchar @SenTinaSmith https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2020/07/22/science-museum-minnesota-layoffs-reopen.html
@sciencemuseummn @amyklobuchar @SenTinaSmith https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2020/07/22/science-museum-minnesota-layoffs-reopen.html
In other Minnesota museum news:” The Minnesota Historical Society has laid off more than 200 employees, more than a third of its workforce. And the Minneapolis Institute of Art lost 39 staffers.”
@mnhs @MNHSPress @artsmia @amyklobuchar @SenTinaSmith https://www.startribune.com/more-than-150-employees-laid-off-from-science-museum-of-minnesota/571854721/
@mnhs @MNHSPress @artsmia @amyklobuchar @SenTinaSmith https://www.startribune.com/more-than-150-employees-laid-off-from-science-museum-of-minnesota/571854721/
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston has cut 113 people from their staff and has a projected loss of $12-$14 Million.
https://www.wbur.org/artery/2020/07/31/the-museum-of-fine-arts-which-remains-closed-confirms-layoffs
@mfaunion @mfaboston @SenMarkey @SenWarren
https://www.wbur.org/artery/2020/07/31/the-museum-of-fine-arts-which-remains-closed-confirms-layoffs
@mfaunion @mfaboston @SenMarkey @SenWarren
The Columbus Museum of Art experienced a 30% budget cut and cut approximately 31% of their workforce, cutting payroll by roughly $1 million. "These are Ohio families and they're suffering."
@columbusmuseum @senrobportman @SenSherrodBrown https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2020/10/13/columbus-museum-of-art-lays-off-39-people.html
@columbusmuseum @senrobportman @SenSherrodBrown https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2020/10/13/columbus-museum-of-art-lays-off-39-people.html
The list goes on and on. Without federal relief, these cultural institutions are in grave danger as are the Museum Arts Workers whose lives and livelihoods are on the line. With unemployment ending for up to 13 million Americans by the end of December… https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/06/13-million-people-could-lose-unemployment-benefits-by-end-of-december.html
...at the same time the eviction moratorium also ends, we’re facing a cataclysmic economic and humanitarian crisis in the dead of winter and at the height of a deadly pandemic.
https://leadingage.org/regulation/cdc-issues-federal-eviction-moratorium-through-end-year
https://leadingage.org/regulation/cdc-issues-federal-eviction-moratorium-through-end-year
All of these devastating outcomes disproportionately impact Black and Hispanic communities. This is preventable. https://www.epi.org/publication/black-workers-covid/
@SenateDems & @SenateGOP Congress must act now. Not January 6th. Not January 21st. NOW. Not just for the Arts & Culture sector, but for the nation. Just remember: there is no American economic recovery without an Arts & Culture recovery. http://www.BeAnArtsHero.com
