[Bcma-l] CMA, Communiqué: Take Action Save ETS

[bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca]

------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	CMA, Communiqué: Take Action Save ETS [REF5360000519000004557]
Date: 	Mon, 22 Oct 2007 15:38:00 -0400
From: 	Canadian Museums Association des musées canadiens 
<lmcconnell@museums.ca>


    Take Action – Save ETS


*Ottawa, October 22, 2007 —* As you know the Canadian Conservation 
Institute (CCI) has announced its intention to discontinue the Exhibit 
Transportation Services (ETS) on April 1, 2008.

Together with the Canadian Art Museum Directors’ Organization (CAMDO), 
the CMA is working to maintain ETS and ensure that the Minister of 
Heritage and members of Parliament are aware of the major impact the 
elimination of ETS will have on museums and art galleries and on 
Canadians’ access to new exhibits.

The CMA has written to the new Minister and expects to meet with her 
very soon. CMA is also raising this issue with CCI directly, with the 
Department of Canadian Heritage, and others in an effort to find a 
solution. CAMDO has developed an information brief on ETS which is 
available at www.camdo.ca/en/ETS.html <http://www.camdo.ca/en/ETS.html>

*Your direct support will help save ETS*
If you share the concern about the elimination of ETS, we urge you to 
write to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and to your local member of 
Parliament. A draft letter is attached 
<http://25538.vws.magma.ca/media/ETS%20sample%20letter%202007.doc>, for 
your use — be sure to put it on your letterhead. It includes the 
Minister’s address.
• You can also fax your letter to the Minister at: 819-994-1267
• For your MP’s address, enter your postal code here: 
www.parl.gc.ca/common/index.asp <http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/index.asp>
• Please also send a copy of your letter to: info@museums.ca 
<mailto:info@museums.ca>

*About ETS*
Created in the late 1970s, ETS is a federal government program — 
administered by the Canadian Conservation Institute – which provides 
shipping services exclusively to public art galleries and museums across 
Canada. The service provides climate-controlled vehicles and trained 
drivers who act as the “art handlers" at pick-up and delivery points. It 
came into existence because of the specialized requirements for art and 
cultural objects when shipped across the nation. The works must be 
preserved in an environmentally-sound and secure truck, and managed by 
an art handler who is cognizant of the specific physical and security 
risks to fragile cultural objects. ETS is cost-effective, professionally 
sanctioned and reliable. Over 54% of all art transportation between 
museums in Canada is conducted by ETS, compared to 28% for all other 
fine-art carriers combined. In some isolated regions, ETS is the only 
fine-art carrier available, as others refuse to service outlining 
regions where the profit-margin is slim. For instance, in the Atlantic 
provinces, over 65% of exhibitions are delivered by ETS.

*For further information:
*Monique Horth
Deputy Director
Canadian Museums Association
613-567-0099 x225
mhorth@museums.ca <mailto:mhorth@museums.ca>

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