A new report by Museum Hue reveals that over a third of surveyed museums and cultural centers founded and led by people of color in the Northeastern United States operate without any full-time staff. The study, which examined 38 institutions, found that 67% of smaller-budget organizations (with budgets under $500,000) lack full-time employees, with some operating on less than $100,000 annually and relying heavily on volunteers.
These institutions are critical stewards of underrepresented histories and art practices, with 91% of respondents reporting collections devoted to marginalized ethnic groups and 84% identifying "sharing under-told stories" as their top strength. Despite their cultural importance, financial sustainability remains a universal challenge, exacerbated by a sharp drop in federal operational funding from 25% in 2022 to just 4% in 2023, highlighting systemic inequities in arts funding for POC-led organizations.