|
For Immediate Release
Ohio Historical Society Partners With Local Groups To Manage Four Historic Sites
Agreements for Tallmadge Church, Ohio Statehouse Education and Visitors Center, Museum of Ceramics, Cedar Bog Will Reduce OHS Operating Budget
(COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 3, 2008) – The Ohio Historical Society today announced it has entered into management agreements for three historic sites: Tallmadge Church in Tallmadge, Museum of Ceramics in East Liverpool and the Ohio Statehouse Education & Visitors Center in Columbus, according to William K. Laidlaw, OHS executive director and CEO. The sites, along with Cedar Bog Nature Preserve near Urbana, were identified in the Society’s recent restructuring plan as sites that could be managed by local groups.
"We appreciate these new partners for rising to the challenge of quickly pulling together the resources and commitments to make this change possible," Laidlaw said. "With these management agreements, our operating costs will be significantly reduced while the sites continue to remain viable and part of the Ohio Historical Society site system."
Due to a $2 million budget deficit, the Society began restructuring its site operations in April, which included finding interested groups to manage the four sites. The new management partners include the city of Tallmadge, Museum of Ceramics Foundation and Capital Square Review and Advisory Board. An earlier agreement was reached last month with the Cedar Bog Association. With the new agreements, there are 29 out of 59 OHS sites managed by local and state organizations or agencies.
Laidlaw points out, “We have the largest state network of historic sites and museums in the country. Quite frankly, it’s impossible for the Society to directly manage all these sites with the decrease in state funding and reduced staffing levels we’ve experienced over the last six years. Because it’s much less expensive to contract with others for management services, the sites can be kept open to the public. This arrangement allows us to focus our limited resources in the sites we continue to manage.”
Under the agreements, which are effective immediately, the Ohio Historical Society provides an annual subsidy to each group for the day-to-day site operations, which primarily include providing visitor services, educational and interpretive programs and basic maintenance. In addition, the groups, if applicable, will keep the income from admissions, program fees and rentals. For all the sites, with the exception of the Statehouse Education & Visitors Center, the Society will continue to provide liability insurance, major maintenance and professional resources as well as administer capital improvement projects.
"These agreements benefit the sites and the communities where the sites are located plus they draw on local enthusiasm among 'friends groups' to support the local sites and the Ohio Historical Society. It's a classic 'win-win-win' situation," Laidlaw said.
The Ohio Historical Society is a nonprofit organization that serves as the state’s partner in preserving and interpreting Ohio’s history, archaeology and natural history. For more information about the Society’s budget situation, go online at www.ohiohistory.org/sn/031308.html.
-end-
Media contact: Kim Schuette: 614.297.2314 or kschuette@ohiohistory.org
|
