The Yellowstone Art Museum (YAM) in Billings has eliminated four staff positions following a significant reduction in funding from Yellowstone County. The decision comes after the county decreased its annual financial support for the museum to $50,000, a steep drop from the $220,000 it typically received in previous years.
Key Takeaways
- The Yellowstone Art Museum eliminated four positions: membership coordinator, rental coordinator, communications manager, and a curatorial role.
- The job cuts are a direct result of Yellowstone County reducing its annual funding for the museum from a typical $220,000 to just $50,000.
- Key museum services, including public venue rentals and some adult education programs, have been suspended.
- Major fundraising events like SummerFair and the Masquerade will not continue due to staffing shortages, impacting the museum's ability to generate revenue.
Details of the Funding Reduction
The Yellowstone Art Museum has historically relied on substantial financial support from the county. For several years, the institution received approximately $220,000 annually. However, this figure began to decline recently.
In the previous fiscal year, the county's contribution was reduced to $188,000. The most recent budget, finalized by county commissioners in September, allocated only $50,000 for the museum. This represents a total funding decrease of $170,000, or more than 77%, from its traditional levels.
Funding Breakdown
- Traditional Annual Funding: $220,000
- Previous Year's Funding: $188,000
- Current Year's Funding: $50,000
- Total Reduction from Peak: $170,000 (77.3%)
Impact on Staff and Museum Operations
The drastic budget cut forced the museum's leadership to make difficult decisions regarding its workforce. Four full-time positions were eliminated to address the financial shortfall. The affected roles include the membership coordinator, rental coordinator, communications manager, and a position within the curatorial department.
Jessica Ogdin, the museum's Executive Director, described the layoffs as a significant loss for the institution and the community it serves.
“These were all amazing staff members. They were dedicated to the museum, and most importantly, to our audiences. They did work that was really meaningful to the community, and not having them as part of the YAM has been a painful decision for all of us.”
The absence of these roles will have immediate and tangible effects on the museum's day-to-day functions. Responsibilities previously handled by the eliminated staff, such as membership services and curatorial tasks, will now be distributed among the remaining employees. This consolidation of duties places additional strain on a smaller team.
Suspension of Key Programs and Events
Beyond the internal restructuring, the community will notice changes in the museum's public offerings. With the elimination of the rental coordinator position, the YAM will no longer offer its facilities for public rentals, a service that provided a source of revenue and a venue for community events.
The museum is also scaling back its adult education programs. While specific details on which programs are affected have not been fully released, the reduction will limit learning opportunities for the public.
Fundraising Events Halted
Two of the museum's most prominent and successful annual fundraisers, SummerFair and the Masquerade ball, will not be held in the upcoming year. According to Ogdin, the museum simply lacks the necessary staff to organize and execute these large-scale events, which were crucial for generating operational funds.
The cancellation of these events creates a further financial challenge, as the museum must now find alternative ways to replace the income they traditionally provided.
Community Support and Future Outlook
Before the county budget was finalized, community members voiced strong support for the museum. During public hearings in August and early September, local residents and leaders urged the commissioners to reconsider the proposed cuts.
Ogdin noted the powerful display of public backing during this period.
“It was incredible to see the public comment that folks made. Business leaders, working artists, parents and grandparents, whose little ones have been part of our programs over the years, it felt really meaningful to the museum to have all of those people step up.”
Despite the setback, Ogdin remains hopeful about the museum's future. She stated that the institution is now turning directly to the public for support to navigate the difficult months ahead. The YAM is launching large-scale appeals to its patrons and the broader Billings community.
“We're making large scale appeals to the community, really trusting and believing in the people who love the museum to help us figure out a way forward in these next difficult months,” she said. The immediate focus will be on stabilizing the museum's finances and ensuring its core mission of preserving and presenting art can continue.
