The Cincinnati Museum Center announced in a press release on the afternoon of June 2 that they have had to lay off a significant portion of their staff as well as implement salary reductions due to the financial effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
"This is a devastating moment for our teams. We’ve had incredible momentum and engagement with the community following the restoration of Union Terminal. COVID-19 has forced us to make excruciating decisions for the future survival of our mission," Elizabeth Pierce, president and CEO of the CMC said in a press release.
The historic attraction closed its doors on March 14 due to COVID-19, at which time they had to furlough all of their part-time hourly staff. The CMC was able to secure finances from relief funds through donors as well as the Paycheck Protection Program to retain their full-time employees' salaries and benefits through July 1.
"We cannot thank you enough for your continued advocacy and support of CMC and you have made a big impact during this trying time," said Pierce.
But while the donations have helped sustain them temporarily, the museum relies heavily on their revenue from members, patrons and donors, and their projected loss for this year and the following — $3.5 million loss of earned revenue in 2020 and $8 million loss of earned revenue in 2021 due to reduced operating capacity, has forced them to make some very difficult decisions with respects to their staff.
"In light of such projections, CMC is making $4M in staffing reductions (a 40% cut in staffing costs) along with myriad cost-cutting measures. This includes position eliminations of 50 full-time staff and 125 part-time staff who were previously furloughed. Salary reductions ranging from 5-20% impacted an additional 52 exempt staff. Additionally, senior leadership took a 40% reduction in compensation and related benefits. These changes will be effective July 1," the release says.
The release takes a moment to recognize its appreciation for all of the people who dedicated their time and passion to the museum over the years, and provides a hopeful look forward.
"We are working hard on preparing for the future and look forward to seeing and engaging with you soon. Again, thank you for your continued commitment in supporting Cincinnati Museum Center and as we always have done, we will get through this together as a community with a continued focus on inspiring people of all ages to learn more about the world through science; regional history; and educational, engaging and meaningful experiences," Pierce concludes.
For more info, visit cincymuseum.org.
