By Marilyn Bauer
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Timothy Rub, director of the Cincinnati Art Museum, says that if the museum lost the financial help of the Fine Arts Fund, it would have to wipe out its entire exhibition schedule.

"Their contributions have been growing in small increments," he says. "They haven't shrunk in an economy that hasn't been kind to nonprofits. The Fine Arts Fund accounts for 15 percent of the Cincinnati Art Museum's annual budget. They've been a rock to us."

Rub says the money, roughly $1.7 million last year, is used for virtually everything - exhibitions, education, staff and facilities.

"The museum is a big facility," says Rub. "A big, old facility, open 52 weeks a year. The building presents us with increasingly complex and challenging requirements: keeping the temperature between 72 and 50 degrees, a complex security system."

Over the past year or so, the museum has put a lot of attention into their Web site.

Money from the FAF allows the museum to stay current with evolving technology. For example, its Web site not only includes a virtual tour of the museum, but photographs of much of their permanent holdings.

The 2004 Fine Arts Fund campaign continues through April 30 with a goal of $10.3 million.

The 55th annual campaign provides operating funds to members: Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Contemporary Arts Center, May Festival and Taft Museum of Art as well as smaller grants to associate members and project grants to small Tristate arts organizations.

The Enquirer will be highlighting recipient organizations during the 10 weeks of the campaign.

E-mail mbauer@enquirer.com