Taubman Museum's Changes a Success - FOX 21/27 WFXR Roanoke/WWCW Lynchburg News, Weather

Taubman Museum's Changes a Success

After years of financial turmoil, the Taubman Museum of Art's executive director David Mickenberg had some good news to share.

"I feel great about the changes," Mickenberg.

More art, free admission on spectacular Saturdays and a partnership with Roanoke County and City schools are some of those on the list.

Mickenberg says attendance rose to 120,000 people; the highest in history. Membership increased from 2,800 to 4,600 people, and now there is a small surplus instead of a deficit.

"Speaks volumes about the changes and speaks about the input we have been getting from the community and the matter that we have been listening to it," says Mickenberg.

Finally some good news for the long time struggling museum. However some remain weary of the future, including board of trustee's member Bill Elliot.

"The changes alone are not enough, it is really going to take a whole lot more community support than we have be able to garner so far," says Elliot.

And some of the support needs to come in the form of $1.4 million a yea to avoiding closing the doors.

"Which would be a terrible loss for the community," says Elliot.

But Mickenberg and the board say they will continue to listen to community input of future changes, much like they did in the past, in hopes of building on the success.