A March survey by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that 85% of all US museums need repairs, with 77% having at least one structural issue endangering their collections. Federal funding does not cover construction-related expenses, and 73% of the roughly 11,900 museums surveyed reported building system or facility problems posing health or safety risks. The American Alliance of Museums noted the data aligns with years of reports from museums struggling with aging infrastructure and unpredictable funding.
This matters because deferred maintenance threatens museums' ability to care for collections, serve communities, and remain accessible. While major institutions like the Frick, New Museum, and Studio Museum in Harlem can fund renovations, thousands of smaller museums—often in historic homes—lack the resources for high-cost repairs like roofs or HVAC systems, which can consume a third of their budgets. The findings underscore a systemic funding gap that positions museum facilities as essential but underfunded infrastructure.