Freedom Center, Museum Center Announce Merger

POSTED: 12:12 pm EST February 14, 2012
UPDATED: 5:15 pm EST February 14, 2012

CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Museum Center and National Underground Railroad Freedom Center announced plans to merge their operations.In a news release issued Tuesday, representatives of the two museums said they will take steps to "join together in a united corporate structure.""We know that joining together will strengthen our respective organizations," said Francie S. Hiltz, chair Cincinnati Museum Center Board of Trustees and Rev. Damon Lynch, Jr. presiding co-chair of National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. "The result will be creative and dynamic organizations, offering greater financial strength and new opportunities."Museum Center spokeswoman Elizabeth Pierce said the Museum Center will have oversight of the Freedom Center. Freedom Center President Kim Robinson will continue to serve as the museum's leader.The Freedom Center has been facing financial trouble because of low attendance. Robinson told WLWT last month that the museum has enough money to operate through 2012, but would need an additional $1.5 million to stay open in 2013."We are deeply motivated by the future opportunities we see to strengthen our ability to carry out the mission of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center," Robinson said in a news release.Pierce said the merger will have no bearing on the Museum Center's levy, which is to be used for operational purposes at its Union Terminal location, and will not go to the Freedom Center.The two museums will maintain their own brands and missions and will remain in their current locations, but will be united in operations and planning. The two organizations will also remain separate.City Councilman Chris Smitherman, former head of the local NAACP chapter and a critic of the Freedom Center's marketing strategy, said he welcomed the change."It's overdue for the Freedom Center to have the absolute best professionals in this business to run that organization, and I don't think their mission is going to change," Smitherman said. "I think it's going to be augmented, and I also think there'll be more clarity on what the Freedom Center is."The museums said the merger will take several months as they work through the necessary program improvements and transition details.Representatives from both museums are expected to discuss the merger further at a news conference scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.
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Freedom Center, Museum Center Announce Merger