Visitors study exhibits about slavery at the John Brown Museum in Harpers Ferry, W. Va., as museums nationwide cope with a difficult 2025. Marilyn Jackson, president and CEO of the American Alliance of Museums, says recent political actions have helped produce a ‘‘chill on corporate philanthropy’’ and contributed to a drop in private support.
The sector was hit by cancelled federal grants and by scrutiny of museum programming from the White House, creating gaps in operating budgets. A new report from the American Alliance of Museums documents the consequences: after-school programs and services for seniors and veterans were cut, planned exhibitions were postponed, and upkeep and maintenance projects were put off.
More than half of museums surveyed report visitor numbers below 2019 levels. Jackson warned the recovery museums began after the pandemic is slipping backward, noting similar declines in theater and movie attendance and a falloff in tourism that particularly affects institutions that rely on out-of-town visitors.
Looking ahead, museum leaders are worried about rising costs: 53 percent identified inflation as a major concern for 2026. Higher wages and operating expenses are squeezing budgets at the same time families are trimming discretionary spending, making museum trips an easy item to forgo.
Institutions are experimenting with new revenue and engagement strategies—expanding food and hospitality options, staging more ticketed events, and opening spaces for broader community use—to stabilize finances and draw visitors back. Jackson said museums will need to make a stronger case that they remain essential to local economies while adapting to tighter funding and changing audience habits.
Jennifer Vanasco edited this story for air and web.