GREENSBORO, N.C.– Greensboro City Council members have yet to decide if they’ll give The International Civil Rights Center and Museum in Greensboro $1.5 million over the next three years.
Museum officials say the money is needed to help out with operational costs and educational programs. Museum co-founder Skip Alston says the museum needs the funding more than ever, as it takes a little over $2 million a year to run the facility.
“Just our electricity alone, the light bill and the gas bill runs about $40,000 a month,” Alston said.
Alston says attendance also hasn’t been what museum supporters expected.
The museum had around 57,000 visitors last year, which is significantly lower than the 200,000 museum officials projected in its planning stages.
However, Alston believes the financial future of the museum can turn around, and wants to use money from the city for the a program called, “Building a Better America Through Core Democratic Values.”
The program would bring thousands of elementary, middle and high school students from across the state to the museum.
“We never had the funds to actually do it., but we’ve been working on this for the past year and a half,” Alston said.
A number of fundraising events are planned later this week to raise money for the program.
Alston hopes to raise over $400,000.
