BOWERS MUSEUM CORPORATION DBA THE BOWERS MUSEUM

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Description of need: The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically altered the Bowers Museum's daily operations. The museum closed on March 17th, reopened June 16th, closed again July 14th, and reopened again on September 12th in accordance with health and safety directives. When the museum reopened, it continued to serve a smaller audience in order to maintain social distancing and comply with limited capacity requirements. The operating loss for the months of March — December 2020 is projected to be $1,550,681. Thirty-seven (37) part-time staff have been furloughed, and all remaining staff have had their hours and / or salary cut 18%- 50% at some point in the last six months because of the extended closure. The Bowers has also had unanticipated expenses for increased costs related to the pandemic. As a result of the closures, the Bowers canceled or postponed numerous programs. The public was unable to access Inside the Wait Disney Archives: 50 Years of Preserving the Magic, a special traveling exhibition expected to draw significant crowds between March and September 12, 2020. The museum's current projected budget shortfall for payroll is expected to be a deficit of $1,317,541 by December 31, 2020. This significant shortfall has resulted in furloughs, pay reductions, and a slower than normal hiring pace. Most staff members who have left the museum's employment during the pandemic as a result of retirement or pursuit of other opportunities have been replaced. The payroll deficit is the largest are of financial concern the Bowers faces at the current time. Additionally, there is a significant need to preserve employment for the following reasons: • Reductions in the museum's workforce will necessarily result in a reduction of museum services such as programs for isolated Santa Ana seniors, programs that support local Santa Ana children in learning from home, and programs that create opportunities for Santa Ana residents to visit the museum for free and/or participate in free virtual programs from the safety of home • Employees will have difficulty finding alternatives employment in the current economic environment • The Bowers needs to maintain employment levels to be able to convert its payroll protection loan into a grant • The Bowers has a skilled talented workforce that would be difficult to replace at a later time Despite these challenges, the Bowers continues to pursue its mission and is dedicated to serving the Santa Ana community at this critical time. One of the Bowers' most significant accomplishments over the past nine months has been the accelerated development of a virtual museum platform that provides educational content, entertainment, and cultural engagement for the local, regional, and national community. The requested funds will support this important work.