It is no secret this year has been a tough one – for everyone. As a private non-profit, the Catalina Island Museum is just one of the many businesses struggling during this uncertain time. The only institution on the island permanently dedicated to preserving and sharing art, culture and the history of Santa Catalina Island, the museum needs your support more than ever.
Its galleries have been closed not once but twice since March. These state mandated closures have forced the museum to incur expenses for exhibitions already scheduled while having no visitors through its doors to help offset the fees. The Museum Store was able to remain open as retail spaces were spared in the last round of shutdowns but that also came to an abrupt end late last week when the Los Angeles County Health Department was called out to shut it down.
The California Association of Museums calculates that museums are losing over $22 million a day due to the statewide quarantine. As of June 1, 2020, California museums have lost more than $1.5 billion in revenue. Despite specific fundraising efforts and memberships, the Catalina Island Museum itself has lost an estimated $200,000 since mid-March.
Whether it is obvious or not, museums are actually positive economic engines contributing $50 billion to the United States economy each year. In 2018, more people visited an art museum, science center, historic house or site, zoo, or aquarium than attended a professional sporting event. This is important to Catalina Island specifically because studies have shown that 76% of all leisure travelers in the United States participate in cultural or heritage activities such as visiting museums. These travelers spend an average of 60% more than other leisure travelers. According to the museum, 73% of its operating budget is allocated to programming which is primarily focused on the Avalon community.
To ensure that museums are included as part of the recovery of our local community, the staff and board members of the Catalina Island Museum have been actively talking with elected officials and government employees at all levels for the past four months. The museum has invested considerable time and funds in making sure the facility meets all safety standards including limited access to ensure social distancing.
Simply allowing the museum to reopen would support jobs that build up the economy and invest in the social and physical infrastructure that will help the local community recover.
As the majority of the Avalon community continues to struggle it may be difficult to support the museum with a donation or through membership at this time. But there are other ways, such as making your voice heard to the leaders in our local, county, state and federal levels. Ask them to reevaluate the safety and importance of museums. Tell them museums should not be placed in the same class as indoor restaurants and bars.
The museum encourages you to send an email, post on social media and/or make a phone call to the following representatives asking them to allow museums, especially the Catalina Island Museum to reopen so its Avalon community can begin to heal by enjoying the Frida Kahlo and other exhibitions it has to offer.
Local:
Mayor Anni Marshall, amarshall@cityofavalon.com
Mayor Pro-Tem Cinde MacGugan-Cassidy, ccassidy@cityofavalon.com
Council member Yesenia De La Rosa, ysdelarosa@cityofavalon.com
Council member Lisa Lavelle, llavelle@cityofavalon.com
Councilmember Michael Ponce, mponce@cityofavalon.com
City Manager Denise Radde, dradde@cityofavalon.com
Assistant City Manager Michael Parmer, mparmer@cityofavalon.com
County:
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, hahn.lacounty.gov
State:
Senator Ben Allen, sd26.senate.ca.gov
Assembly Member Patrick O’Donnell, a70.asmdc.org
Federal:
Senator Kamala Harris, harris.senate.gov
Senator Dianne Feinstein, feinstein.state.gov
Representative Alan Lowenthal, lowenthal.house.gov
The Catalina Island Museum offers the best in art and history exhibitions, music and dance performances, lectures by guest speakers from all over the world, and the finest in silent, documentary and international film. The museum’s Ada Blanche Wrigley Schreiner Building is located in the heart of Avalon at 217 Metropole Avenue. For more information, the museum may be reached by phone at 310-510-2414 or at its website: CatalinaMuseum.org.
