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Future of Detroit Children's Museum in question
DETROIT - The Detroit Children's Museum faces an uncertain future after the city's financially strapped school district dropped funding for the institution.
Facing a nearly $260 million budget deficit, Detroit Public Schools has had to make deep cuts, The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press reported Thursday, including roughly half of the about $980,000 the district provides for daily operations at the museum.
The $450,000 in surviving funding comes from federal Title I grants.
Employees say they expect to be out of work after summer programming ends Aug. 6.
Supporters of the museum, which opened in 1917 as a joint operation between DPS and the Museum of Art but has been operating under the school district alone since 1925, are working to spin off the museum as a self-supporting institution, said Jennifer Roberts, a board member of the Children's Museum Friends, which raises about $70,000 a year for the museum.
"The goal is not to close it but restructure it as an independent entity that no longer depends on the budget fluctuations and the bureaucracy of DPS," said schools spokesman Steve Wasko.
Anita Cywiak, 68, who performed a puppet show at the museum Tuesday, said she was "heartbroken" at the news.
"It would be so tragic not to have quality programming and cultural education available for these children," she said.
Regina Lancaster of Detroit brought her granddaughter, Alexis Hatley, to the museum Wednesday, when the 9-year-old played chess, dressed up as a nurse and tried puppeteering.
"There should be some other funding," Lancaster said. "This is something for the children to learn and have something to do."
Last year, the museum lent 30,000 exhibits and artifacts to 81 schools and is a popular field trip destination.
"The goal is not to close it but restructure it as an independent entity that no longer depends on the budget fluctuations and the bureaucracy of DPS," said schools spokesman Steve Wasko.
Anita Cywiak, 68, who performed a puppet show at the museum Tuesday, said she was "heartbroken" at the news.
"It would be so tragic not to have quality programming and cultural education available for these children," she said.
Regina Lancaster of Detroit brought her granddaughter, Alexis Hatley, to the museum Wednesday, when the 9-year-old played chess, dressed up as a nurse and tried puppeteering.
"There should be some other funding," Lancaster said. "This is something for the children to learn and have something to do."
Last year, the museum lent 30,000 exhibits and artifacts to 81 schools and is a popular field trip destination.
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Regards,
Charles C. Primas
WWW.CHARLESPRIMAS.COM
WWW.DETROITBUSINESSTODAY.NET
"Heaven never helps the man who will not act." -Sophocles
Regards,
Charles C. Primas
WWW.CHARLESPRIMAS.
WWW.DETROITBUSINESS
"Heaven never helps the man who will not act." -Sophocles
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