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South Carolina State Museum reports attendance rebound, seeks continued capital support for expansion
Summary
Museum director Amy Bartimiglia told the subcommittee the museum is back to pre‑COVID visitation (~162,000), reported revenue gains and staffing increases, outlined a master plan for a new education/innovation wing and said the museum has encumbered $25 million with the Department of Administration for the next project phase.
Amy Bartimiglia, executive director of the South Carolina State Museum, told the House Ways and Means education subcommittee the museum's attendance is back to pre‑pandemic levels and outlined plans for capital expansion, collections work and accessibility upgrades.
"Our numbers, which were 162,000 this year, are back up to pre COVID levels for the first time," Bartimiglia said. She reported a record December revenue of $355,000 and said the museum added 14 full‑time positions last year and onboarded another 23 staff since July.
Bartimiglia described master planning for a new education wing and innovation spaces (the West Wing expansion described as roughly 40,000 square feet), partnerships with the Department of Administration on project management, and a plan to increase objects on display from the museum's holdings. She said the museum has encumbered $25,000,000 in an A1 contract with the Department of Administration for the next project phase and that the department is assisting on procurement and construction oversight.
The museum highlighted accessibility initiatives—on‑demand visual interpretation via the Aira Explorer app, ASL supports and tools for colorblind visitors—and said it is expanding digitization projects supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and private donors.
Chief curator Paul Matheny displayed a Revolutionary War‑era silver ladle attributed to a Charlestown silversmith (c.1770) and said the new Revolutionary War traveling exhibition will open to the public on June 28, with a legislative preview on the 10th. Bartimiglia and Matheny described collections acquisition practices (about 80% donated, 20% purchases/transfers) and an anonymous donor fund that enables strategic purchases.
Lawmakers asked about security upgrades; Bartimiglia said the museum installed a new security camera system, added three security staff the prior day, and is coordinating a safety assessment with state law enforcement. The subcommittee did not take immediate funding action; Bartimiglia said the museum will provide additional details on project costs after master planning completes in February.
