One-third of museums lost government funding since Trump took office, survey says

"One-third of US museums have lost government grants or contracts since Donald Trump took office, according to a new survey. The findings, released by the American Alliance of Museums on Tuesday and based on responses from more than 500 museum directors across the US, shed new light on the challenges cultural institutions are facing under the Trump administration."

"Among the museums affected by cancelled government contracts or unreimbursed expenditures, the survey found that the median loss was $30,000. The most common cancelled grants were from the Institute of Museum of Library Services, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the National Endowment of the Arts. Two-thirds of the respondent museums reported that the lost funding has not been replaced by foundations, sponsors or donors."

"We're seeing attendance and financial performance trending in the wrong direction for the first time since the pandemic, with recovery not just stalling but reversing. This should be a wake-up call for policymakers and philanthropists alike, Marilyn Jackson, president and CEO of the American Alliance of Museums said in a statement about the release of the report."

A survey of over 500 museum directors reports that one-third of US museums have lost government grants or contracts since Donald Trump took office. Affected museums experienced a median loss of $30,000, with cancelled grants most often from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Two-thirds of respondent museums have not had lost funding replaced by foundations, sponsors, or donors. About a quarter of impacted museums canceled or reduced programming for students, rural communities, people with disabilities, and the elderly, while 28% cut general public offerings. Museum leaders expect continued disruption into 2026 due to shifts in philanthropy, financial instability, travel and tourism changes, inflation, government funding losses, and political polarization.

Read at www.theguardian.com