Freedom Center merger with Cincinnati Museum Center to save more than $800K

CINCINNATI - The merger of the financially-troubled National Underground Freedom Center in downtown Cincinnati with the Cincinnati Museum center will save money, but also cost jobs.

The Cincinnati Museum Center will now be overseeing the Freedom Center, leaders with the museums said at a news conference Wednesday morning. The merger of the two will save $800,000 to $1.2 million, however, between 13 and 15 people will lose their jobs.

City Councilman and president of Cincinnati NAACP Christopher Smitherman supports the merger. He believes the CEO of the Cincinnati Museum Center is the right person to head the merger.

"I think because of Doug McDonald's ability, like the 'America I Am exhibit,' his ability to leverage exhibits like that and them to travel all around the country, I think that the national foot print that the Freedom Center has is even going to give those exhibits more credibility and they'll be stronger," Smitherman said from NAACP headquarters Tuesday afternoon.

The Freedom Center has been plagued by financial and attendance issues, particularly of late. In December, we reported that the Freedom Center was in jeopardy of closing, specifically by the end of this year, if it couldn't close its budget deficits.

The museum center meanwhile, has its own set of issues; primarily its building, which has fallen into disrepair.  They are seeking to place a levy on the November ballot as a result. Last year, the same levy request failed to get the approval of Hamilton County Commissioners.

A source tells 9 News that the Freedom Center will remain in its current location, and this is more of an oversight transfer or an annexation. The move could pave the way for the Freedom Center and its exhibits to someday move to the museum center's location on Western Avenue.

Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld released the following statement Tuesday afternoon:

"The Freedom Center and Museum Center are both defining institutions for our community. The solution that has been brokered is a great example of the power of building partnerships. This is a good thing for Cincinnati."

A media relations representative from the Freedom Center refused comment when 9 News spoke to him late Tuesday morning. A call to the museum center Tuesday has so far gone unreturned.

Visitors to the Freedom Center say they're glad to hear the museums are teaming up to work together.

"I think it's a great idea to try to do everything we absolutely can to keep the Freedom Center in our community. I think it's important part of Cincinnati and an important part of our identity of Cincinnati. I'm glad to hear the museums in the community are working together to try to keep it hear," said Kevin Oberlin of Cheviot.