City funding for the Cameron Art Museum is not a sure thing. We spoke to two city council members about CAM's latest request for help as the city faces a $7 million budget shortfall.
"Well, it's a lot of money considering what we're facing," said Dr. Earl Sheridan. "I think the arts are important. They're important to the quality of life of an area, but I'll have to look at their request very closely."
"I do think that if you look at it on the list in terms of priorities," Kevin O'Grady says, "The social service agencies are farther down the list on priority, the primary functions are core services."
If CAM doesn't get the money it's asking for, the museum board is considering a number of other ways to ensure survival including cutting programs and hours, or even merging with other non-profits, like the Cape Fear Museum.
BEGGING
GET IN LINE!!!!!!!!!!just a snotty way of BEGGING!!!!!!Hello recession
non profet
heck if i had 1/4 of the diectors sallery i could live like a king for three years or at least like a prince .let it be a requirement that any one that wants to be in charge of any non profet to have to live on $893.39 amonth for a year like my spouce and i have to every month .then they wil know what it is like to weare old cloths old shoes with holes in them patched with glue and plastic baggies .our house payment is $398.44 a month do you see what i mean take the rest and buy food clothing meds insurance and electricity .sounds like a good requirment to me now what do you think
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.