Art Museum Director Paid $1 Million

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, NY paid its director $1.04 million in salary and benefits in 2010, according to a report in Bloomberg.

The article states that Thomas P. Campbell, who was named director in 2009, earned a 2 percent increase from his previous salary. Overall, he made $653,402 when the nearly $389,051 in benefits is excluded. That is way below the average for executives in the arts field, as shown by NPT's 2011 Salary and Benefits Report. Still, it is comparable to other top museum jobs. The Museum of Modern Art's head, Glen Lowry, earned $1.6 million in compensation in 2009.

The increase in salary for Campbell coincided with the museum's highest attendance levels in nearly four decades. For the year ending June 2011, attendance was 5.7 million, a 9 percent increase. This was due in large part to the wildly popular exhibit showcasing clothes and accessories designed by the late fashion designer Steve McQueen.

A spokesman for the Met told Bloomberg that the increased benefits Campbell received was due in large part to his move to a museum-owned apartment in September 2009. The apartment, which is rent-free, is used for museum-related entertainment and events. The spokesman added that Campbell's travel wasn't part of compensation.

You can read the full story in Bloomberg.