This is the year for sensible adjustments in all our budgets, the Nevada Museum of Art being no exception. Taking a proactive stance in anticipation of reduced income, David Walker, our President and CEO, trimmed our 2009 budget without making any drastic cuts and only a minimal reduction in services. As he described it, “We can do anything; we just can’t do everything.”

The museum’s budget is derived from income, such as memberships, revenues from The Store and Cafe Musee. Fund raising provides the larger portion, with gifts and grants from individuals, government, corporations and several fund raisers.

Volunteers made a sizable contribution to museum operations with funds realized from the Arts and Flowers luncheon. Staff requests this year were all budgeted items - materials for the care of our permanent collection, dues, subscriptions and licensing fees, radios, earpieces for security and badges for volunteers. In addition, the VIA Council voted to purchase a defibrillator and provide funding for alcohol awareness training which is required for those who serve wine at our social events.

Thus far, the volunteers’ contribution exceeds $22,000. VIA also has $5,000 in its art set-aside fund.