The University's branch of the Virginia Museum of Natural History will close Dec. 31 because of a lack of funds from the state budget. The VMNH, based in Martinsville, Va., currently funds the University's branch of the museum, which was cut off from the state budget in 2002.
"We have not funded the branch for the past two years," VMNH Executive Director Tim Gette said. "But U.Va. wanted to continue the museum, and so funded it until September [2004], when we found some funds to maintain it."
It costs about $80,000 per year to sustain the University's museum branch, according to Laura Hawthorne, director of University outreach and special assistant to the provost.
"So we decided that we just cannot continue funding the museum," Hawthorne said.
Gette also said the University branch museum is not meeting the missions of research and relations set by the VMNH, another factor that contributed to the decision to close the museum.
However, the museum's services will still be made available to the public despite the branch closing.
"We are planning that the people who are working for the museum branch will continue to work in the community services even when the building is already closed," Gette said.
Museum outreach services still will be offered in the area.
"The main branch is dedicated to continue the outreach program in the Charlottesville community," Hawthorne said.
The University's branch of the museum, which is located along Emmet Street, received approximately 19,000 visitors and program participants in 2003. The branch is a partnership between the University and VMNH, and the museum's services include outreach programs, education lectures and day camps.
Heeja Roh, a local resident and the mother of a three-year-old boy, said she is saddened by the news of the branch's shut down.
"I don't really understand why it is closing," Roh said. "I go here every week with my son, who enjoys the collections and toys. Now we have to go to a different museum."
Once the museum is closed, the collections and exhibits will be returned to their respective owners. Dela Alexander, director of the University's museum branch, will oversee the transfer of the exhibits and materials from the museum, according to Hawthorne.
"Most of the collections will go back to the main branch at Martinsville," Hawthorne said. "The privately-owned materials will be returned to the contributors, and the University will handle those materials that were made by U.Va. students and staff."
In addition, VMNH seeks an affiliation with a Charlottesville museum to aid in the raising of funds to allow the continuation of the programs in the Charlottesville area, Gette said.
"This affiliation will allow us to continue to do what we do best," he said. "We will be able to develop excellent educational resource materials that can be used by the Charlottesville community."
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