"It wasn't just the federal government cancelling grants, leaving museums with holes in their budgets to fill. But President Trump's targeting of museum programming led to downstream effects on funding, putting a "chill on corporate philanthropy," according to Marilyn Jackson, president and CEO of the American Alliance of Museums. "We're seeing corporations and foundations thinking twice about funding certain projects or programs they would have naturally funded in the past, because of all these executive orders that came down," Jackson said."
"The group just issued a new report highlighting an extremely rocky 2025: after-school programs and programming for seniors and veterans were cut, and new exhibitions and maintenance projects were stalled. A major worry for the group is softening attendance. More than half of the museums surveyed are seeing fewer visitors than in 2019. "For the first time since the pandemic, we're seeing museums' recovery in reverse," said Jackson, who noted that this was in line with changing consumer trends facing the theater and movie industries."
Federal government cancellations of grants created significant budget shortfalls for museums. Targeting of museum programming by the administration led corporations and foundations to reconsider or withdraw funding, reducing philanthropic support. After-school programs and programming for seniors and veterans were cut, while new exhibitions and maintenance projects were stalled. More than half of surveyed museums reported lower attendance than in 2019, and tourism declines further reduced audiences. Recovery that followed the pandemic appears to be reversing. Fifty-three percent of museum leaders cited inflation as a major worry for 2026, with rising salary costs and reduced family discretionary spending. Museums are expanding food services, events, and public activities to adapt and emphasize their economic importance.
Read at www.npr.org
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