Museum to become an essential destination for people wanting to make sense of the changing natural and cultural worlds
The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is implementing a new strategic plan that will transform the Museum into a more public-focused institution, in particular giving better access to its research and curatorial expertise. Part of the first phase of implementation is a reorganization of the ROM’s staff that will see the creation of a new stream dedicated to visitor engagement, headed by a new Deputy Director position. A reduction in the ROM’s staffing costs will contribute to savings that will be used to reduce debt, give greater financial flexibility and provide additional funds to be invested in initiatives that will support the strategic plan such as strengthening the quality of the onsite experience for visitors and enhancing the technological infrastructure of the Museum.
The ROM will reduce its total salary and benefits costs by 10 percent to realize a saving of $3 million a year. Management will be discussing a variety of options to generate these savings over the next two months, and a voluntary separation package is being offered to staff. Until a final staffing plan is finalized in September 2012, no specific job reductions will be made other than the changes already announced to ROM senior management.
The ROM’s attendance and revenue is on forecast in fiscal year 2012/13. New initiatives such as family weekend programs and Friday Night Live @ ROM were very successful; the Ultimate Dinosaurs: Giants of Gondwana major temporary exhibition, that recently opened, has been extremely well received. The ROM is therefore implementing cost reduction measures in the context of good financial performance, with the goal to reduce debt and give greater financial flexibility and long-term stability.