Joshua Helmer, the new CEO of the Erie Art Museum told Joel Natalie on TalkErie.com Friday that there are major financial stresses put on arts organizations like the museum, and other heritage, non-profits due to the proliferation, of new charities.
“What makes me worried, not just about the museum but also about the cultural landscape in general, and this is actually indicative of the entire U.S., non-profit organizations are popping up at much-faster rates than they are exiting the marketplace,” Helmer said.
Helmer said that most arts organizations are just surviving on a subsistence level, and that, ever since he took reins of the art museum, he has been reducing staff and operating hours, in order to counter a six-figure deficit.
