[Bcma-l] Funding Cuts
bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
Fri, 18 May 2007 11:07:55 -0800
Bill,
I'm very interested in your proposal to create a Foundation. Perhaps, this
is part of the solution to obtain what we all need and are so tired of never
achieving - some sustainable funding based on museum needs. I recently
voiced my frustration to someone about never knowing if funding will be
obtained, if I'll have a job the next year, lack of volunteers etc. The
person sort of laughed and said that's the way it is for most non-profit
organizations in the cultural sector. In other words, get used to it! How
disheartening for someone relatively new to the position. I would love to be
part of the solution and am interested in what others think about Bill's
idea.
Lorna
Bella Coola Valley Museum
----- Original Message -----
From: <bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca>
To: "BCMA-L" <bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca>
Sent: Friday, May 18, 2007 8:28 AM
Subject: [Bcma-l] Funding Cuts
> 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
>
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