Major Restructuring for the Walters Art Museum, Baltimore

Dutch Galleries, The Walters Art Museum. Photo: Patrick O'Brien

BALTIMORE, MD.- The Walters Art Museum announced that it is restructuring its organization in order to preserve its position as one of the preeminent museums in the nation and retain its long-term financial stability. Sixteen positions have been eliminated (7 with incumbent employees), and expense reductions and other cutbacks have been extended throughout the institution, including a salary freeze and selective hiring freeze, staff furloughs, the closing of Hackerman House on weekdays, and the cancellation of a major exhibition which was to partner the Walters with the Musée d’Orsay in Paris and the Getty in Los Angeles.

“Despite the challenging financial storm we are currently weathering, we foresee a bright and healthy future for the Walters, but we can only get there by making some tough decisions,” said Dr. Gary Vikan, Director of the Walters Art Museum. “We remain fully committed to maintaining the free access to our permanent collections that began in 2006, to sustaining without compromise our school and family programs, and to continuing to present innovative, scholarly exhibitions. We are also deeply committed to the museum’s ongoing technology program, with its outreach to the world, including the upcoming launch of a special section of the website dedicated to a comprehensive overview of our renowned collections.”

“Fortunately, the Walters entered these troubled times from a position of strength,” said Andrea B. Laporte, President of the Walters’ Board of Trustees. “Our leadership team of board and staff members is cohesive, experienced, and committed, and we know that the changes we must make now will ultimately result in a stronger Walters Art Museum.”

During calendar year 2008, the Walters’ endowment lost 27% of its value; in addition, the museum is facing significant cuts in City and State funding. However, the Walters remains committed to its mission to “bring art and people together for enjoyment, discovery, and learning” through its programs, collections, and special exhibitions.

Chamber of Wonders, The Walters Art Museum. Photo: Patrick O'Brien