State cuts funds for Ceramics Museum

by Allison Brookes
EAST LIVERPOOL – According to a press release issued by the Ohio Historical Society Friday, the Museum of Ceramics will no longer employ its three full-time staff members due to lack of funding.

As stated on the Ohio Historical Society’s website, an expected $2 million budget shortfall is expected during the 2009 fiscal year due to declining state budget support and the state’s poor economy.

The OHS operates and maintains 59 historic sites and museums throughout the state, many of which have been forced to raise admission prices, cut their hours and eliminate staff—47 full- and part-time jobs so far.

The bad news for East Liverpool is that the Museum of Ceramics is one of the four sites that will be forced to operate under new management agreements. This means that the three full-time employees will receive no pay after May 30th of this year.

Sarah Vodrey, one of the full-time employees at the Museum of Ceramics, encourages members of the community to stop at the museum and show their support by signing up to volunteer or make a monetary donation to help keep this historical facility open.

Vodrey concluded by saying, “It’s my deep hope, and the hope of everyone who loves this museum, that this cultural treasure will be able to live on in spite of these changes.”

East Liverpool Historical Society President Timothy Brookes said there will be a meeting on Tuesday, April 15, at the Thompson House to discuss the Society’s response to the closing of the museum. Brookes stated, “ I hope that some alternative can be found to permit the continued operation of the Museum.”