Council Questions Drexel on Museum Closure

The closure of a major Philadelphia museum has drawn sharp scrutiny from local government officials seeking answers about the decision-making process.

City Council members spent several hours on Monday questioning representatives from Drexel University regarding the recent shutdown of the Academy of Natural Sciences museum.

The hearing focused on why the university did not seek financial support from the city or private donors before announcing the closure to the public.

Councilmember Quetcy Lozada asked the university representatives why the museum was not considered as important to them as it is to the general public.

More than 120 people attended the session in Council chambers, where many waved signs supporting the museum and booed when university officials took the floor.

Melissa Richman, the executive director of operations at Drexel, stated that the university had provided over $49 million in direct cash support to the Academy over the last 15 years.

She explained that Drexel is currently working to eliminate its own deficit and cannot afford the $5 million to $6 million annual subsidy required to keep the museum operating.

Richman noted that the university is willing to work with civic leaders and philanthropic partners to find a long-term solution for the institution's future.

The hearing took place while Drexel and the Academy are in the middle of renegotiating their affiliation agreement, a process that has not yet produced a final deal.

Drexel president Antonio Merlo was absent from the session, a fact that drew criticism from several council members who called his absence disrespectful.

Richman said Merlo had to remain on campus for a site visit by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which occurs every five years.

Council members also criticized the mayor's administration for not sending a high-level representative to the hearing despite the high profile of the issue at hand. Deputy Mayor Trish Wellenbach, who serves as the city's representative on the Academy issue, sent a statement instead of appearing in person. She explained that she was not the appropriate person to testify because she could not speak on behalf of Drexel or the Academy. Councilmember Jeffery Young Jr. tore up her written statement during the session and announced that the body would issue subpoenas to compel testimony at a future hearing scheduled for November 16. Issuing a subpoena for a member of the mayor's administration is highly unusual for the City Council, though they have the legal power to do so. During the testimony, council members focused on the specific financial numbers required to reopen the museum, which has been closed to the public since September 27. Richman told the committee that the Academy's public programs cost $7.7 million last year but generated only $3 million in revenue, leaving an annual shortfall of $4.4 million. Committee Chair Isaiah Thomas asked if there would be an appetite to reopen the museum if the city and private sector committed to covering that gap. Richman answered that a financially sustainable model that also addresses capital expenditures for the building would make reopening a possibility. She cited a two-year strategic study underwritten by the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage that explicitly recommended closing the museum due to its physical and financial needs. The university has previously stated that the building requires about $150 million in deferred maintenance. Suzanne Biemiller, the president of the Academy board, said during the hearing that the institution would like to see a new feasibility study commissioned. The William Penn Foundation has offered to cover the university's subsidy for the museum for one year to allow time for a long-term solution to be developed. Drexel has not yet accepted or rejected that offer, which was made more than a month ago. A spokesperson for the foundation said before the hearing that the group remains open to conversations about how they can be helpful. The hearing was preceded by a demonstration outside City Hall by the Save the Academy Coalition, which advocated for an independent interim commission to safeguard the institution. About 120 supporters held signs with messages such as We Need Science and Save the Academy. Isa Betancourt, a coalition organizer, told the crowd that the event marks the beginning of accountability for the institution.