Art Institute of Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago (AIC) is expected to remain closed for at least 12 more weeks and is projecting approximately $9 million in lost revenue due to the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, according to an email sent to museum staff and volunteers from the leadership team.
On Friday, April 3, AIC President James Rondeau held a conference call with AIC staff and said to offset the approximately $9 million in revenue losses the museum will make "disciplined expense reductions" in operations, programming, and exhibitions between now and June 30.
“It has been made clear that protecting staff – keeping everyone as financially secure as possible - remains the highest priority,” the email stated.
The museum will continue paying full-time employees through June 30, although some may see a temporary decrease in pay. Reductions in pay are scaled so that the museum can “limit the impact on our lowest-paid employees, and have higher compensated employees share a larger portion of the burden,” the email said.
For employees making just over minimum wage, there will be no reduction in compensation.
The museum's operating and project budgets also will be reset to use a zero-base approach, and the remaining budgets for fiscal year 2020 will be built up from $0. These budgets will focus on operations and preparation for reopening.
The Monet exhibition will be the primary focus when the museum reopens. Currently, installed exhibitions are being extended, if possible, including El Greco.
The museum is postponing or canceling other future exhibitions and programs.
The Volunteer Recognition Event planned for June 4 is canceled, but museum leadership plans to honor anniversary volunteers in 2021.
Training for new volunteers and exhibitions will move forward after reopening once museum leadership has gathered recommendations from health organizations on conducting training with social distancing in mind.
The museum will also use a staggered schedule of volunteer arrivals on all shifts. Mobile sign-ins also may be a possibility
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