[Bcma-l] Funding Cuts
bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
Fri, 18 May 2007 15:29:35 -0600
I guess I have mixed feelings. There have been a number of efforts over the years to develop some foundations along this line, but they have not worked. Yet just because something did not work in the past does not mean it will not work in the future.
I guess there are some federal examples of foundations that received large sums of money to support things like research, but this was federal government money to begin with.
I still like to promote the concept that exists in Saskatchewan, where the lottery system is run by the non-profit sector. Thus how money is distributed can be developed by the sector that receives it. Its not a perfect system, but it is better than what exists in many other provinces. Now this would not deal with the federal area of support, but at least it provides a revenue stream that is not dependent on votes by government.
Happy Museums Day
Lee Boyko
----- Original Message -----
From: bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca
Date: Friday, May 18, 2007 1:07 pm
Subject: Re: [Bcma-l] Funding Cuts
> 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-
> profitorganizations 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'sidea.
>
>
> 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
> > [_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_ <cstevens@newwestcity.ca>
> >
> > Web Site: _www.newwestminster.ca_ <http://www.newwestminster.ca>
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > ***From:* bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca
> > [_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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> > Bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
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> >
> >
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