Black history museum cuts staff, hours amid crunch

BOISE – Budget problems have forced the board of the Idaho Black History Museum to lay off the museum’s two staffers and only open on Saturdays, a board member says.

The museum was formerly open Wednesday through Saturday, as well as by appointment for groups. But the museum hasn’t been bringing in enough money to cover operating costs, said museum board member Carolyn Casey.

The museum needs about $100,000 a year to cover expenses, including the salaries of Executive Director Kimberly Moore and Director of Educational Programs Valerie Williams, Casey said. But at the museum’s main fundraising event this year, less than half of that amount was raised, Casey said, forcing the museum to lay off Moore and Williams and reduce hours. Schools and other groups can still arrange tours by appointment, she said.

“It’s really about the operating expenses. We had incredible funding and support for education and what we bring in for exhibits, and we’ve done quite well getting grants for specific programs. But those do not cover operating expenses – for those we rely completely on donations,” Casey said Monday.

Part of the budget trouble began after museum officials decided to switch the museum’s main fundraising event – the Bridge Gala – from its usual date in September to February to coincide with Black History Month. The switch meant the museum had to wait longer for the revenue generated by the event, Casey said. The problem was compounded when the gala brought in less than $50,000.

“During the next several weeks the board and the advisory board to the museum will partner to develop a strategic plan that will provide a stable foundation for this important museum and ensure that visitors will again have full access to this historical resource for many years to come,” board Treasurer Shenna Smith said in a statement.

The museum, created in 1995, is the only African American history museum in the Pacific Northwest, Casey said.