INDIANAPOLIS, IN (AP).- The nearly 300 staff members at the Indianapolis Museum of Art will have to take an unpaid week off during the coming months in the latest cutback for the museum.

Spokeswoman Katie Zarich say the furloughs, along with less spending on contractors, advertising and travel, are needed as the museum makes a 5.5 percent cut from this year's $25.5 million budget.

The museum reduced its staff by about 10 percent in February and froze employee salaries through 2010.

Zarich says the museum doesn't anticipate changes to the programming it offers its 500,000 annual visitors and that its new 100-acre art and nature park is still scheduled to open in June.

IMA Budget Reduction Statement
In order to operate with a balanced budget, maintain a free admission policy, and to preserve jobs at the Museum, the Indianapolis Museum of Art has announced a series of budget cuts totaling approximately $1.4 million. These cost-saving measures follow a series of budget cuts made earlier in 2009, which included a 10% reduction in personnel. For its current fiscal year, which started July 1, 2009, the IMA projects a revised operating budget of $24.1 million. The most recent changes were necessary due to revisions in revenue forecasts.

Among the changes are reductions in contracted work, advertising and travel. No layoffs are planned, but all IMA staff will be required to take a one-week furlough. A salary freeze enacted earlier in 2009 will continue through 2010.

The reductions were made with the goal of maintaining the best possible visitor experience.


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