[Bcma-l] Funding Cuts

[bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca]

From: W.G. Quackenbush, President, Wells Historical Society

May 17, 2007

Hello:

Service Canada - Canada Summer Jobs program published their criteria on 
the web where the application forms are located. I knew that we would 
not be eligible just from reading through the criteria, but applied 
anyway. The money, the system for adjudicating, and the way we look at 
Museums on a general societal level need re-examining. Bottom line - 
using a summer employment program to address social ills should not be 
the mandate associated with support for museums. These two social 
elements should form separate agendas.

The Wells Historical Society can not open the Wells museum this year as 
a result of the lack of funding. In-fighting about who got what and 
trying to point fingers is a little late, the issue has been at hand for 
years through every political party in power. The people who adjudicate 
the programs are as helpful and non-partisan as they possibly could be – 
they are just carrying a task based on the directions of Parliament.

The truth of the mater is that society in general is looking less and 
less to museums as important to the well being of society. That is why 
funding cuts, previously announced and discussed through the list serve, 
are now coming into affect. The move to more community based support is 
resulting in the discontinuation of long term programs on both the 
Federal and Provincial levels. Fee charges for services do not support 
museums. Fund raising is an increasingly competitive sport. Volunteerism 
has been stretched across a lesser base of support, and also requires a 
functioning infrastructure (i.e. board of directors and managers). I 
know several people who sit on various boards of directors because 
others are just not coming along to support the activities and to take 
up a position. Less people applying for less funds – now that’s what I 
call a tax saving. The next stage is already set – we will visit our 
museums on the web and that is the only place they will exist – and a 
volunteer could build that at home in their spare time. Sarcasm aside, 
there is a need for direction from the museum community that will be 
effective in changing the way in which we obtain operational support.

Governments do not like direct funding, which is the only rational 
method, as it sets up dependencies that they do not want to get involved 
with, i.e. an employee/employer relationship or something similar. 
Museums do not like having to spend rare resources and time writing 
applications for funding to operate and we all hate the early spring (or 
very late spring as it usually is) feeding frenzy over dwindling 
funding. Perhaps instead of wasting our time sending disgruntled letters 
to individual Government representatives we should be rethinking this 
relationship internally and looking for ways to either avoid this as a 
situation, or to effectively lobby as a group. While the Canadian 
Museums Association and the British Columbia Museums Association 
continue in lobby efforts we have seen a continual decrease in support 
for museums over many years. This trend continues in spite of the fact 
that our collective groups protest to Ministers and other politicians.

I would like to raise the idea of an independent granting body. This 
group would lobby to have all levels of government place yearly funds 
into a foundation that has investment and donation potential. It could 
operate through a constitution that would be structured by the Museum 
community rather than by people who have no idea about the issues. While 
this sounds simple, it is not simple. But, it would take funding issues 
directly out of the potential or perceived potential for favouritism. It 
would also allow for a more rational approach to the distribution of 
funds, including getting out of waiting for a ‘budget’ to be passed 
(always too late and a dollar short). It could also lend itself to the 
creation of a body of funds that would be devoted to museums rather than 
‘social ills’.

The creation and operation of a Foundation would not be that easy, as 
members range in size from our small museum operated through grant 
programs and donation to large institutions like the Royal Ontario 
Museum – that already have a funding stream. The present granting system 
for Canada Summer Jobs was designed with the intent of favouring the 
disadvantaged, but not the disadvantaged museum. Perhaps a point system 
based on needs according to established criteria of museum keeping might 
emerge, or, should the ‘Foundation’ become wealthy, and all museums up 
to snuff, that the funding be directed in other directions.

My thought is that if Governments (which are elected and representative) 
do not support our cause, then lets move towards not having Government 
funding as an issue. If we continue to look for scapegoats, we will not 
find them – there is too little money in question to make anyone really 
worry. Why not put our collective energy towards building something not 
dependent on Government funding. What we would then do is to put our 
lobbying Government into a more focused perspective – the creation, 
maintenance and enforcing of laws dealing with antiquities, museums and 
preservation of the past.

We all know that the granting system does not work – lets do something 
about.

W. (Bill) G. Quackenbush

President, Wells Historical Society


*From:* bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca 
[_mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca_]
***Sent:* May 16, 2007 11:16 AM
***To:* bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
***Subject:* RE: [Bcma-l] summer students

I agree that BCMA should ask about the process of awarding of student 
positions as it seems to be somewhat arbitrary this year. 3 here, none 
there etc.

How did their “points” system work? How much was the political influence?

Colin MacGregor Stevens,

Manager,

New Westminster Museum and Archives,

302 Royal Avenue,

New Westminster, BC,

V3L 1H7

Phone Office: 604-527-4639

Fax: 604-527-4641

E-mail: _cstevens@newwestcity.ca_ <mailto:cstevens@newwestcity.ca>

Web Site: _www.newwestminster.ca_ <http://www.newwestminster.ca>

            -----Original Message-----
            ***From:* bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca
            [_mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca_]
            ***Sent:* Monday, May 14, 2007 12:38 PM
            ***To:* bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
            ***Subject:* Re: [Bcma-l] summer students

            Well I was obviously wrong about both the extra money and
            the which MP you have.

            I find it very interesting that many sites got multiple
            students and others go nothing. Sound like it would be a
            good thing for the BCMA to ask for information on who the
            program was handled this year.

            Cheers, Lee

            *----- Original Message -----*

            *From*: bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca

            *Date*: Monday, May 14, 2007 11:48 am

            *Subject*: [Bcma-l] summer students

>
>  The Chilliwack Museum and Archives did not receive any funding
>  through the
>  Summer Career Placement program. First time in my memory. By the
>  way we are
>  in a Conservative riding.
>  Ron Denman
>  Director
>  Chilliwack Museum and Archives
>  45820 Spadina Avenue
>  Chilliwack, BC V2P 1T3
>  604-795-5210