The Federal Government has terminated a grant for the Cayuga Museum.
In a stament released by the museum, Executive Director Kirsten Gosch wrote that the musuem received notice on April 9 that the federal government had abruptly terminated the museum’s $50,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), noting “your grant is unfortunately no longer consistent with the agency’s priorities and no longer serves the interest of the United States and the IMLS Program. IMLS is repurposing its funding allocations in a new direction in furtherance of the President’s agenda.”
According to Gosch, the termination is a direct result of the March 14 Executive Order: Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy – Elimination of the Institute for Museum & Library Services, placing IMLS staff on administrative leave.
The reimbursable grant was awarded in August 2023 to help the museum create a permanent exhibit showcasing the history of Cayuga County as well as fund a curator position to guide the exhibit’s development.
“We are determined to complete the project, but this loss of funding is a devastating blow to organizations of our size, which run on very tight budgets,” wrote Gosch.
The lack of funding not only jeopardizes the future of the exhibit but could also lead to the termination of the curator position, a museum staff member told Finger Lakes News Radio.
The museum is encouraging the public to contact their members of congress “to keep this issue in the forefront.”
“If you are a supporter of any museums, theaters, community centers, arts centers, or any other space that supports history and the arts, this is the best way to show national leadership that federal support for arts funding matters to you,” continued Gosch.
A prefilled message relating to the grant’s cancellation has been shared by the museum and can be found here. The museum is also encouraging people to “personalize the text to your own experiences with the arts locally, particularly if you have enjoyed any programs or exhibitions at the Cayuga Museum.”
Cayuga County is represented in the House by two members of Congress; Congressman John Mannion represents the south of the county, while Congresswoman Claudia Tenney represents the north.
A full copy of the statement can be found below:
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