The California Museum of Art Thousand Oaks, or CMATO, will close after 14 years in business, citing financial troubles rooted in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Museum Chair Nancy Chappell said that at first, the pandemic first made it difficult to plan programming, connect with supporters and develop a board. After closing at one point during the pandemic, the museum opened back up with strong momentum, but not enough to sustain itself.
The closure comes at a time when the museum had more members than ever, consistent monthly programming and other initiatives, according to Roya Alt, the museum’s executive director.
The museum was initiated in 2008 and moved to the Oaks Mall in 2018. Its budget is about $250,000 a year with its primary source of funding coming from individual donors, while grants make up a smaller portion of its funds.
The museum’s final day of operation will be Sunday, June 19. It will hold a donation day on June 25, when it will offer furniture, office and art supplies to local nonprofits.