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Aug. 19, 2026 ~ Chris Renwick and Lloyd Jackson speak with Neil Barclay, president of the Charles Wright Museum for African American History, and Elana Rugh, president of the Detroit Historical Society, about a joint announcement the two made yesterday.
DETROIT ~ Two Detroit museums announced Tuesday that they were launching a campaign to ask voters to approve a new millage this November to help with their funding.
During a press conference, officials from the Detroit Historical Society and Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History said the millage would help alleviate the financial strain burdening the two entities. The “Yes to Our Story” campaign proposes a 0.2 mill levy for 10 years, amounting to a $30 annual cost for homeowners of $300,000 homes.
If passed by Wayne and Oakland County voters, the residents of these counties would receive free admission to the museums, similar to how the Detroit Institute of Arts operates.
“We really feel that the residents of our area really value their arts and culture, and that folks will come out just like they did for the DIA with this modest ask,” Elana Rugh, president of the Detroit Historical Society, told WJR. “We know it’s a difficult time, but we are counting on folks, the tens of thousands who already visit our museums, to just help us out and make sure that we are here for the next generations.“
