FIRST ON 3: Cameron Art Museum now agrees to turn over budget information

The Cameron Art Museum has been in the spotlight since requesting $100,000 from the City of Wilmington back in February.

The city is looking at a $7 million shortfall this year – and some feel that $100,000 should be scaled back – or cut all together. Others, however, feel the CAM is an anchor attraction for the city, and it would only hurt in the long run to cut its funding.

The CAM has a four year / $100,000 per year agreement with the city that it signed in 2006.

In February, the Star News published an article about the request and the museum’s budget – but when it asked to see individual salaries – the museum’s director and board president refused to turn over the information. They tell us they felt turning over just that information – without painting a picture of the entire budget – would be out of context.

This week, we requested a copy of the agreement from the city – and found that it stipulates that CAM must release its budget to the public. Once we pointed that out to Board President Scott Sullivan, he then agreed to provide us the information on Tuesday, March 16th.

Once we get that information – we’ll, of course, pass it on to you.