Hello Everyone,

• Rocco Saverino, our Chief Financial Officer, mentioned at the Town Hall earlier this week that we are a bit off our operating budget projection (by $630,000, about 2% of operations as of the end of September). Leadership Team is looking very closely at it but I want to be transparent and acknowledge that we are in a modest deficit position. I am confident that if we watch our spending, we will end the year in a balanced position. Our attendance figures are very positive lately, and that is promising!

• Be sure to stroll through Small Wonders: Gothic Boxwood Miniatures and prepare to be amazed. Also check out the catalogue published by the AGO and The Boxwood Project database online, which launched earlier this week. Thank you to everyone who brought these projects to life.

• Last week, I was in Italy with the Contemporary Circle, a group of donors. We saw incredible art, and I appreciated the opportunity to get to know some of our most generous supporters a little bit better. Thank you to all staff involved who put the trip together, and for ensuring memorable experiences with art and artists. Whenever I travel and see some other museums I always ask what are the things they are doing well that we could do here.

Enjoy the weekend,

Stephan