December/January

In the twelve months since we opened the new DIA, we’ve experienced record attendance for a year in which there have been no Van Gogh or Egyptian exhibitions- the archetypal "blockbusters" that museums have come to count on for a sudden infusion of cash. Nearly 600,000 people visited us in the first ten months, and in June, July, and August, months when the DIA and many other art museums experience sparse attendance, we welcomed five and six times our usual number of visitors. Memberships are also at an all-time high. We really, really need this kind of support, and I’ll tell you why.

You may read about museums, including the DIA, having annual "deficits" or "running at a loss," when such is not really the case. Most museums develop annual budgets containing a certain level of risk in that we plan the year based on raising or earning funds that we do not yet have but which, relying on our experience, we believe will materialize. It is a gap that has to be filled through revenue generation, gifts, and grants from individuals, corporations, and foundations or public funding. The DIA’s gap has become more and more significant as we have seen a dramatic decline in the last category. State funding through the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) has gone from $8 million in 1999 to $950,000 this year; city support for annual operations was zeroed out several years ago. (I should point out here, however, that through two bond issues, the city was the largest single contributor to our recently completed renovation and expansion, to the tune of $42.5 million.) But, because of the long history of operating support from public funds, the DIA never built the kind of large endowment found at many of our peer institutions- endowments that, in some cases, provide more than half the annual budget.

So, the DIA, like many individuals and institutions, finds itself under considerable financial stress, exacerbated by the recent banking crisis, precisely at the time that we are back to operating a full-size building. As we planned for the new building, we were extremely mindful that we would have increased security and utility costs, but we worked very hard to contain them, even as we committed ourselves to providing an exceptional level of service to members and other visitors. We also continue to raise money aggressively. But current conditions make every single membership renewal critical, and I hope that, as you make budgetary decisions, you will remember that the DIA is not just a special exhibition every now and then but a year-round venue for family entertainment, education, enlightenment, and personal renewal. Members enjoy special access to our many programs and offerings, including free exhibition tickets, special receptions, and discounts on Detroit Film Theater tickets and other programs, as well as at our own shop and restaurants.

Thank you for your continued support and Happy Holidays to you all!

Graham W. J. Beal
Director