The Cameron Art Museum has made headlines recently, for refusing to disclose budget information while continuing to ask for tax payer money. After we found out the museum signed a contract agreeing to abide by public record laws when they began accepting city money four years ago, the board decided to have a news conference today to answer questions from the media.
The CAM is a state of the art facility, paid for largely by the Cameron family. While the building is paid for, it costs more than a million dollars a year to run. No feasibility study was done before it was built, and for more than a year now, it's operated in the red.
"Perhaps the vision was larger you know than the reality," CAM Board Member Rick Myracle told the media today. " But the point is, this is a state of the art, $12 million paid for museum facility and the challenge to the board, and to the community, is we have to maintain and operate"
Since the museum is a private organization, many of our viewers were surprised to hear its gotten a $100,000 a year from the City of Wilmington the last four years. So far, all the money has gone into the endowment fund, but now, the board wants another $100,000 to cover operating expenses.
The CAM has a $1.5 million budget. It spends more than $350,000 a year on utilities - and hundreds of thousands of dollars on programs and exhibits. Payroll makes up about $770,000 - for 10 part time and contract employees and 10 full timers.
"If we cut staff any further," Myracle says, "We have to reduce programs. We have to reduce our educational programs or our exhibition programs or our public programs. That's the last thing we want to do, but if we have to, we will do that."
Museum Director Deborah Velders makes $120,000 a year, plus benefits. We asked if that was a little high, considering the museum is a non profit, and its attendance was down significantly last year. The museum board maintains her salary is in line with what other museum directors make across the state, and that she has 30 years experience at some very impressive institutions, including the Smithsonian in Washington DC. After she came to the museum in 2005, revenue and attendance rose dramatically - and then, the recession hit.
"She volunteered to take a pay cut," said Myracle, "And based upon the fact that she's working 65 - 70 hours a week and doing about four different jobs, we as a board said at this time, we will not ask her to do that."
The Cam
I don't have a problem putting my name on my comments unlike other folks here who hide behind their tags. That being said, I donate what I can to many organizations, and one of them is The Cam. I have a $50.00 per year membership and I put money in the donation box every time I go to an opening. I also volunteer there, and when I do, I have to give up making a days wages to do so but I do it gladly. I volunteer at my kids school too. I am one of many artists in the Wilmington area that has donated art repeatedly year after year to silent auctions that help out our schools, domestic violence shelter, Boys And Girls Club, Dreams, etc.My point is that I don't have to donate $10,000 to make a difference, and neither do you.
I feel for everyone who is suffering financially but that doesn't mean we ignore our cultural institutions. I work 3 part-time jobs---I am far from rich. I just really care about what the arts does to enrich our lives. And downtown is living proof that the arts bring in money. All those galleries,restaurants and bars wouldn't be there if a dynamic shift hadn't taken place about 20 years ago. We need to support the arts.
Well Susan! Aren't you the
Well Susan! Aren't you the superior one, putting your name out there and all. I tell ya what, it ain't helping your cause one bit though. Based on your attitude, I for one won't be spending another dang dime on CAM in the future, you can believe that.
You care about art? Good for you. Alot of us do. Alot of us show that care and support outside of CAM, believe it or not. And I bet those same people would be willing to donate private funds to help support CAM. (Except me of course because as long as YOU have anything do to with them, I want no part of it) What the city should NOT be doing at this point in time is spending money they DO NOT HAVE. What about that is so hard for you to understand?
You really do take the cake, Susan.
WHAA!
If you cared so much about art you would put principles before people. I don't care if you like me---I care about the preservation of The Cams' Mary Cassatts, Claude Howells, Maude Gatewoods, Minnie Evans, and the many other wonderful works of art that The Cam owns, including the recent works of local artists such as Margie Worthington, Don Furst, and Elizabeth Darrow.
Best wishes to you PuhLeeze!
Don't bother
Your "best wishes", you can keep lady. This may come as a HUGE surprise to you, but I've been supporting the arts for about 25 years before CAM ever existed. If I am interested in preserving the work of ANY artist, I can do it without YOU and without CAM and without government funding.
The fact that you don't care how you come across as an "ambassador" to CAM really says it all.
Did I read that right?
"principle before people"
That explains the attitude here in general with the uppity notions CAM and the supporters of CAM seem to have.
It's tough if you haven't noticed...probably haven't seeing as where it seems your head is. People need to come first. This money is better spent on needed services now. Money has gone to CAM for the past few years and when the times allow fine. I have never complained in the past at all. Times are just not allowing for this "fluff" at the moment.
Why is it so hard for CAM to just make modifications, like the rest of us have had to, to survive until things improve. That holier than thou attitude is not gonna help their cause in the long run.
that's right
Yes, PRINCIPLE ie., supporting the Cam even if you don't like me, a PEOPLE; that is the point. No one is suggesting that PEOPLE aren't important, it is quite the contrary. And I might add, if you read any of my other comments, that artists in this community give freely to this community any time they are asked to. Look at all the benefits that artists donate their work to! So art and caring for people do go together.Lots of organizations including our schools, our health clinics for the poor,deserve funding, in my opinion.
I've never been called holy before---that is amusing.
The fact remains that museums are really struggling right now. No one is suggesting that people's food and shelter isn't important; the issue is that it is ALL important and we must find a way to solve these problems instead of everyone just automatically being nasty about the importance of art in our community.
How about this?
IF you read my post I had nothing negative to say about past support. Also you have no idea what I do and don't give to and to what. I have nothing against the arts at all. As a matter of fact I guess I have been giving to CAM all along since I am a taxpayer.......right?
There just must be some common sense invoked here to what is really the most important services given the current economic climate. For them to hold out a begging hand wanting money even before they try any cost cutting methods is an insult to the struggling taxpayer period.... IMHO. If we would have heard of hours being cut, salaries being cut and so on and that not working then I think folks may have been a tad more receptive to them wanting assistance.
Keep it running... fine... just lets see some honest effort from them in trying to do what the rest of us have had to do... CUT BACK!! Sound reasonable?
**Honestly I have no reason to dislike you because of your position. I will have mine however. Reasonable?**
The Cam
Just to let you know, the Cam did cut it's hours last year and it saved (don't quote me exactly) I think $400,000. The Cam is open Tues. thru Fri. from 11-2 due to budget cuts. It is open on the weekends from 11 to 5 , closed on Monday. Obviously everyone is at a loss in our community trying to figure how to fix the budget shortfall. 7 million is a lot of money to be short on. I would just like for everyone to put their heads together and figure this out for everyone because I don't think any one particular organization should suffer, including The Cape Fear Museum, our schools, our waterways,etc. It is all special and all worth fighting for.
Peace!
Enlightened...
Good info and thanks....
I will leave things at this. You just cannot breath CAM and our schools in the same breath given the current situation....
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20100319/ARTICLES/100319598/1177?T...
http://www.wwaytv3.com/first_3_wilmington_unemployment_rate_now_116/03/2...
The list goes on. Someone in another forum summed it up very nicely and I hope if that person visits will not be offended that I stole this. "We need to have a better understanding of want vs. need."
Glad you like the museum
It's obviously one of YOUR pet projects. You choose to give money to it, and I highly encourage all people who like the museum to contribute.
However, citizens should not be FORCED to contribute to it through their taxes.
Raise entry fees. Rent out space for private events. Do whatever you have to do to survive, but don't EVER think that a private cultural institution has a right to taxpayer dollars.
Taxes are for essential services, user fees and charitable contributions are for the frills.
Well said!
It certainly doesn't get much clearer and concise than that!!!
The Cam
Your taxes also go to the Cape Fear Museum whether you go there or not. Same goes for The Smithsonian--- taxpayer money,plus private donations. Museums are a cross between an educational system and a business. None survive without help.
Take their funding too.
The acid test is, can a museum make the majority of it's operating cost through gate fees?
GOOD museums can. People would pay to vist the Smithsonian. People pay to get into the American Museum of Natural History. People pay to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Could the Cameron or Cape Fear Museums make most of their money on admission fees? I think not, but that doesn't mean that you go to Sugar Daddy government with hat in hand.
Take a look at what places like New York and California are doing to their museum and arts funding. What makes you think we don't need to slice away at the frills budget?
If you can't pay your own way, close.
Arts, tourists, and imaginary arguments
All of you claiming that "arts bring in tourists" are missing one key point - the Cameron isn't pulling in jack! If people were coming here to visit the art at the Cameron, their attendance would be higher.
I'd like to see the proof that the arts bring in a substantial number of tourists, anyway. In the absence of that proof, such a statement is no more valid than saying that tourists come to Wilmington to see the CSX railroad bridge North of town.
If it can't pay its own way, it needs to close. Taxes are for essential services; user fees and charitable contributions are for the frills.
Cameron Art Museum
I’m the first to say the arts are important to society & culture. But for those who missed the news, we are in a recession. Not to mention a serious budget shortfall. Wilmington has got to make some choices about what is critical and what is optional. Sorry, but the museum is not on the critical list. One reason governments across the nation are in such economic chaos is that they can’t seem to make reasonable budget cuts. Something has to give. Don’t ask people who are struggling to pay for taxes, (and fees which are really taxes), food, gas, & utilities to support art exhibits.
Businesses have had to be flexible during these challenging economic times, often lowering their charges in the process. The museum should consider reducing their rental fees so they could book more events such as wedding receptions & social gatherings. It would be better to have more events at less money each than no events. The same people they are asking to support this facility can’t afford to utilize it for these things. They can get creative and hold fundraisers. Just don’t ask the citizens for yet another bailout. We don’t have any more to give.
Hmmmmmm
$120,000 a year to supervise moving Art around. Amazing. I do many jobs at my work as well. As a hospitality employee, I do customer service, security, housekeeping, maintenance, tour guide, trip advisor, and occasional delivery person. I make $8.00 an hour.
Some things you can't control in business, but payroll is the one thing you can manage. Let someone go. If the police department is short-staffed due to financial issues, then the CAM can surely cut some staff. Maybe someone making $8 and hour can teach those making $35.72 an hour a thing or two.
If it cannot stay open
If it cannot stay open through donations and admission, it needs to close. $120,000 for a director in a building few people use is outrageous.
Low on the list of prioirities
Sorry, not this time around given our financial health. Take a hike !
With the county and city
With the county and city threatening to raise our taxes yet again, I do not think this is the time for the city to give $100,000 to the art museum. When city and county employees are forced to take furlough time, it seems wrong for the city to be worried about the art museum. I am sure the director does a fantastic job, but so do our sanitation workers, teachers, police officers, librarians, etc. They all deserve MORE than they are getting.
Many people are lacking
Many people are lacking the necessities of life right now. Many, many people have no job, many have no home from foreclosure, many have no electricity because they can't pay the power bill, many, many are just plain hungry which is why food pantries are crying and begging for help. There are those who can't buy medicine right now, probably because they have no job or are needing their power turned back on and alot just hungry for food.
For some reason, I don't think these people are really worried about the "superior museum experience." You think these people are the few and not many? Think again.
For those of us who still have thinking minds left, we know we are in a depression. The GOVERNMENT is the only one who thinks we are coming out of a great RECESSION.
This is alot like if you give me a million dollar house to live in free and clear, and I can't afford to live in it. When we can't do something, then we can't. That's called a part of "life."
The Wilmington-Star article states that CAM has said receipts are down this year because of the poor economy. When money isn't there, and since it has been operating in the red for more than a year now, I would say that is a pretty good indication that the money isn't there.
This is where in our own homes in these circumstances we start streamlining. Cut the hours of operation, cut it by days if necessary. That will save on salaries and operating expense. Cut programs, cut whatever is necessary.
I'm not some dumb person against the arts. The arts are important to a certain extent in our childrens lives but I am intelligent enough to know if the money isn't there, then it isn't there.
County Wasting Money on Cameron Art! Also!
All the recent talk focuses on the $100,000 the City of Wilmington has been giving to CAM while its citizens continue to suffer from high taxes, utility fees and the horrible job market. All of which are getting worse, as local leaders raise taxes and fees and put added pain into households.
However, New Hanover County has been giving Cameron Art Museum taxpayers' money too, an added $50,000 every year.
So CAM doesn't get $100,000, they get $150,000 from local taxpayers each year to subsidize their yearly failure to function as a viable entity.
Where are the so-called conservatives on the New Hanover County Commission? Oh wait, there are no conservatives on the County Board.
Let's work to elect Brian Berger and Justin Lamasa to the County government and get some real, responsible change!!!!
Vote Berger and Lanasa...they respect taxpayers.
LOL..
SOoooo..you want to cause the lay off of 20 MORE individuals...YOUR AWESOME!
The Cam
I replied to this post quite awhile ago, but it looks like it got lost.
I think that the logic to your argument is a little skewed.I understand that many people have lost their jobs, etc., but that does not mean that the $100,000 that The Cam is asking for would change the circumstances of those who are out of jobs, need food, need electricity, etc. The city is not about to give people money for their electric bills.
However, the arts absolutely bring tourism to Wilmington, and artists and arts organizations don't make nearly the money they generate for other businesses.People come here for all of Wilmington, not just the beaches. No arts and you might as well board up half the hotels and restaurants. We needs arts to survive here.
It comes out to approx. one dollar for every New Hanover County resident for The Cam .That is not too much to ask, not when so many artists in our community donate their paintings, their sculpture, jewelry, music, etc., to so many needy organizations in Wilmington. Not when the Cam has given many local artists a place to do outdoor sculpture, not when the Cam has volunteer docents who take children and Alzheimers patients through guided tours.
If I follow your logic, then
If I follow your logic, then the city shouldn't give the Cam $100,000 because that money is going to go to feed people, turn on their lights, etc. I don't see it that way. The arts bring tourist dollars into this city, and ironically the artists and arts organizations don't make nearly the money that they help generate when people come here and get a hotel room, go to restaurants, etc. The arts help keep Wilmington vibrant. The arts are absolutely essential to our economy and must be acknowledged as such. My artist friends give and give and give, by doing benefits, volunteering, etc. The Cam also helps Wilmington artists, as well as housing the beloved and permanent collection of the former St. John's Museum of Art.
The Cam needs one dollar per year for every resident in New Hanover County---is that too much? I don't think so.
Ms. Velders has done an
Ms. Velders has done an incredible job at The Cam. The Cam also has many volunteers, from docents who take children on tours, to kids art programs, music programs, etc. The shop and front desk are manned almost completely by volunteers, and volunteers also work special events. Ms. Velders salary is in line with what other museum directors make and she deserves her salary. The rest of the staff deserve their salaries as well! Everyone there is doing the jobs of two people and they are happy to do it because they are committed to offering Wilmington a superior museum experience. It is my hope that Wilmington residents really think about what The Cam offers the community, the collections that it houses, and the great exhibits that have opened the minds and hearts of many.
Jobs & 100K
[quote] Susan Kranyik: Everyone there is doing the jobs of two people and they are happy to do it because they are committed to offering Wilmington a superior museum experience.[/quote]...
**Everyone there is doing the jobs of two people and they are happy to do it because there are NO JOB OPENINGS, in this *DEPRESSION* that this country is facing currently**
There "fixed" that for you..
As for the Museum, tell the Cameron's to sell some of their land holding's to support that Hunk-a-Junk, Brick & Mortar building.
I believe that in this depression with our cities 7 million Budget Shortfall, 100K could go a long way HELPING people out, or saving those funds to help in our cities budget shortfall...
Or they could have a "Starving Artist's" sale's too make-up their own 100K shortfall, not with the taxes paid in by the rest of us common Serfs.
But...
Now is not the time to spend more money on this. If it can't support itself then they must adjust. The rest of us are having to so what makes them so special? They may need to cut hours of operation and yes take salary cuts... uh I have had to for the past year! No my heart doesn't go out to their plight any more than any other business. If it isn't paying its way then it MUST adjust.
I've been..... won't go again... It has nothing to offer me.
CAM
at 120,000 a year I guess she is happy doin her job! I would do more then 1 job myself if I was paid that kind of money....give me a break!
Well, how much???????
Well Susan, how much money are you donating to the fine arts? Is it $10,000 or $20,000? I would guess no where neither. People are huting. Ms. Velders salary is crazy. Take your nose out of the air and smell the real world! People are trying to pay there mortgage and you are worrying about a museum where the head honcho is greatly over compensated. Please
Priorities...
Don't you think it's a bit much to expect people to worry about CAM when they can't pay their mortgage. Are you for real?