Director's Statement on UA Budget Cuts February 13, 2009 Dear Friends and Supporters of the University of Arizona Museum of Art and Archive of Visual Arts: Last week, University of Arizona President Robert Shelton announced the dramatic impact of the budget cuts passed by the Arizona State Legislature, and signed into law by the Governor, which impact The University of Arizona. In that announcement, President Shelton stated that the UA Museum of Art will be open fewer days per week, and will eliminate its engagement in University-level education as well as educational outreach. The University of Arizona Museum of Art is and always has been proud to be an integral part of the UA. To that end, the Museum has fully cooperated with the full scale of these unprecedented budget cuts. The Museum has sustained the loss of five full-time staff positions with an additional one-half time staff position this year. This significant cut amounts to the loss of one-third of the permanent staff of the Museum effective June 30, 2009, the end of Arizona's fiscal year. All programming will be curtailed as the number of exhibitions presented per year at the Museum will be seriously reduced, and the duration of the exhibitions will be extended. The Museum will continue to be open to the public, albeit with reduced hours. The Museum will be open to the public Wednesday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 PM to 4:00PM. An admission fee of $5.00 per person has been initiated. However, children and anyone with a UA CAT card will be admitted free of charge. Museum members will continue to enjoy free admission along with their other membership benefits. Because exhibition programming will be curtailed, curatorial positions have been impacted by these budget cuts. To compensate in this area, I will assume the duties and responsibilities of Chief Curator in addition to my duties as Director. Fortunately, due to private funding, educational programming and outreach will not be completely eliminated but will be substantially reduced. Any tours or events that are currently on the schedule will continue as planned. Some of the required changes will take place immediately while others will be phased in as the June 30 deadline approaches. The UA Museum of Art recognizes that it is only one part of this great university that has been required to respond to Arizona's unprecedented budget shortfall. While the budget cuts have had a dramatic and unfortunate impact on the Museum, its staff, volunteers and the public it serves, the Museum steadfastly remains committed to serving the University and the Tucson community at large. Understandably we will be doing less -- with less. The remaining Museum staff will work together with our loyal and dedicated Docents, Partners and National Advisory Board members, combining our unique and diverse skills to cope with this current economic crisis. These are exceptionally difficult times, both financially and emotionally. The Museum is dedicated to maintaining an experience of the highest quality. We appreciate your continued loyalty and your participation and support of the programs of the UA Museum of Art and Archive of Visual Arts. With your help, we will emerge from this period of transition as a stronger and more independent institution dedicated to the value of the visual arts at the UA and in our community. Sincerely yours, Charles Allan Guerin, Executive Director University of Arizona Museum of Art and Archive of Visual Arts All contents copyright © 2009. Arizona Board of Regents. Maintained by: hershoff@u.arizona.edu