New York museums look for next steps after losing federal grants

Excerpt from article found on Spectrum Local News.

Federal changes are having a ripple effect at museums across New York. Funding cuts have impacted many organizations. Many museums rely on grants and donations from the public and without that money, it can be difficult to move forward with big projects, because every dollar counts.

The Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse was built in the 1960s. Elizabeth Dunbar and her team are planning to update the building, which was going to be funded partially by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. But that money has been canceled.

“We were lucky to get a grant from the NEH a few years ago to do some capital improvements to the building. And unfortunately, through executive orders, our NEH grants were canceled,” said Dunbar, executive director of the Everson. “There’s a dire need in the community for additional funding to make up the difference. So, we’re all scrambling to find additional funds.”

Dunbar said losing the grants might result in cutting community programs.

“We’re out in the community on a daily basis throughout the summer, doing outreach programs to those who can’t come to the museum’s physical space. We’re in libraries, senior centers, community centers, hospitals, really taking art to the people and without funding, those are the kinds of programs that we have to cut,” said Dunbar.