To our Members and Friends:

In a unanimous decision, the Trustees of the Contemporary Museum have decided to suspend the museum's operations at the end of May 2012. We will continue to fulfill any outstanding commitments underway during the first part of summer 2012.

For 22 years, the Contemporary has been an innovative model for both programs and operations. Like all arts organizations, we have been faced with economic conditions that have made fundraising more challenging than ever before. Over the past six months, the Trustees have come to realize that the most prudent course of action to ensure our future success is to take the necessary time and effort to plan for that future. We have determined that the only way to do this is to make this our sole focus for the immediate future.

We want to assure you that the Trustees of the Contemporary remains committed to the museum's mission to explore the art and culture of our time by presenting new art, new ideas and new creative processes through thought-provoking exhibitions, innovative programming, and unique collaborations with artists, curators, and members of the Baltimore community. It is our intent to soon be able to offer programs that fulfill this goal.

As a result of the Trustees' decision to suspend operations:

• The Contemporary discontinued programming as of Friday, May 18 as it concluded its current exhibit Baltimore Liste.
• The museum's four part-time staff members have been invited to stay with the museum through May.
• Sue Spaid, our Executive Director, will be at the Museum until May 31st and will continue to assist the Museum in the initial part of this new phase of the Contemporary's history. The Trustees want to thank Sue for her dedication to and creative energy on behalf of the Museum over these last 18 months and wish her well in her future endeavors.
• The Contemporary Museum will not renovate and move into space on Charles Street, as previously announced.

Thank you for your support.