Leadership from the Powerhouse Science Center made a plea for city funding Tuesday in front of Durango City Council.
Without annual operating funds from a public source, it would be difficult for the museum to be sustainable in the long term, said Nana Naisbitt, executive director.
“I think we are in danger of not surviving,” she said.
In 2016, the museum would likely need $125,000 from a public source to survive, she said. This would account for about 25 percent of the museums operating budget.
The museum closed abruptly in May after discovering its precarious financial situation. But Naisbitt is hoping to reopen by September after cutting operating expenses by 50 percent.
Naisbitt and the nonprofit’s board members stressed that public funding is a key piece of the funding model for museums across the country.
“I don’t know how to create a model that doesn’t exist,” she said.
The city funded the museum before the recession, and without that funding, the museum struggled.
“It teetered on financial collapse that entire time,” she said.
The money can help in grant applications, and it is also needed to complete deferred building maintenance.
There are some life-safety issues with the building that need to be addressed, said Bill Carver, who helped found the center.
The councilors showed some interest in helping to fund the maintenance because it is a city-owned building that is leased to the nonprofit.
But any decision on funding would have to go through the extensive budgeting process.
Councilor Christina Rindele encouraged the Powerhouse director and board to explore creative ways to exploit the buildings location on the Animas River front.
Naisbitt assured her they were renting the building this summer, and they had tried to offer food service in the past without success.
The city may be looking into how to support arts and culture in the community more generally now that the local tax base has recovered it, said Mayor Dean Brookie.
“We weren’t quite anticipating this urgent of a request,” Brookie said.
The Powerhouse leadership said they would also approach the La Plata County Commissioners.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
