Jeanette Bent
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) — Some people in the local museum scene in Santa Cruz are frustrated over budget cuts that are directly impacting the institutions and community.
Now, they’re hoping to save a piece of the local culture.
“Community spaces are so essential; community spaces that encourage something positive like appreciating art, appreciating cultures other than what you’re familiar with,” said Kelso Cochran a biology researcher at UCSC.
The community as well as museum employees are left to navigate how these institutions will supplement lost revenue while still providing necessary resources.
“We want to apply above and beyond services, we want to be one of the greatest museums in the country,” said Rhiannon Crain, Executive Director of the Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery (SCCMOD).
Crain says that the recent federal funding cuts to certain non-profit grants, directly impacts local museums.
“Those grants were summarily cancelled on April 8,” said Crain. “We thought that maybe there would be some sort of review process that we would go through that to see if our grants aligned with the current administration priorities, but nothing like that happened… they just sent us a letter saying, ‘You’re no longer funded.'”
Crain says that she doesn’t directly count on the grants in the museum’s daily budget, but that loss still impacts certain programming, community outreach efforts and a variety of activities that the museum could have potentially hosted.
Some other organizations aren’t so lucky.
“Our budget is $1.5 million, so to receive a $250,000 cut in federal funding has a significant impact on the museum and the community that we serve,” said Ginger Shulick Porcella, Executive Director of the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History (MAH).
Porcella mentioned that some grant-funded staff positions may be at jeopardy, along with a handful of other future exhibits and resources.
And, as far as the cuts trickling down into the community, some fear a threat to local culture.
“Loosing that because of ridiculous spending cuts where people don’t find art and history essential, is how you loose that sense of culture that your community really fosters,” said UCSC biology researcher Kelso Cochran.
Both the SCCMOD as well as the MAH say that tens of thousands of families come through their doors annually. And, while the community may not feel the financial impacts immediately, they are likely to down the road.
“For the public, for our communities; it’s exhibits not happening, it’s programs not being offered,” said Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History Executive Director Felicia Van Stolk. “It’s perhaps underserved or historically excluded groups continuing to not be included or welcomed in because of accessibility programs that are being cut.”
One parent and second grade teacher at the Mount Madonna School, Karlee LaHue, said that her family and school depends on accessible resources like museums and libraries for cultural education.
“These programs that are available to schools–of all income backgrounds at a free or discounted rate–are so important because kids count on those to start experiencing their community,” she said.
Since 1997, Santa Cruz museums have received over $3.7 million in grant funding from the Institute for Museum and Library Services.
Now, these institutions–the SCCMOD and the MAH–are facing a total loss of $250,000, limited future programming and resources, as well as threat to other community services.
They are hoping to find alternative funding sources, and to receive support from volunteers and members.
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Monterey Regional Fire was on scene, working to contain the fire to the garage at a home on the 22300 Block of Capote Drive. 
A view inside the garage that was on fire at a home on the 2230 Block of Capote Drive.
