By: Nathan Chen

Due to financial difficulties, the Secret Museum is moving to Brooklyn in the Spring. The museum was founded in 1985 by the art collector Julia Everhart in order to provide space for art collections and other kinds of rare artifacts. It is a place to provide artists with an intimate platform.

“We have always wanted to provide a platform for hidden treasures,” said Everhart. “However, the economic reality of operating in Manhattan forced us to rethink our future.”

The decision to move the museum was made after a lot of struggle with finance struggles that were worsened by the pandemic. Even with the help of federal opportunities, the museum visitor number kept shrinking while work expenses grew. The new Brooklyn location introduces a bright future for the museum.

“Brooklyn affords us the opportunity to continue to grow and expand our reach to entirely new audiences,” explained Everhart. “In doing so, we will always maintain the special experience that so many of our visitors love, no matter where they are coming from.”

To name one example amongst many, the Secret Museum has joined a program for cultural institutions across the city, aimed at creating new, long-term strategies to survive. That said, a recent survey conducted by the American Alliance of Museums found that nearly 25% of cultural institutions are using their reserves to finance their operations.

The last exhibit at the museum on the Lower East Side, titled “Endings and Beginnings,” will share the reflection of an outdated view of the most loved collections and a glimpse of what is to come in DUMBO. Opening next month, museum-goers have one last opportunity to uncover the treasure within Manhattan hidden before it moves on to a new venture.

Sources:
Amid Challenges, Small New York City Museums Are Closing Their Doors – The New York Times (nytimes.com)