[Bcma-l] [Fwd: CMA, Communique: Key Messages and Actions- cuts to federal
programs
bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
Thu, 21 Aug 2008 08:33:40 -0700
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Subject: CMA, Communiqué: Key Messages and Actions- cuts to federal
programs [REF5360000854000008785]
Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:05:00 -0400
From: Canadian Museums Association des musées canadiens
<lmcconnell@museums.ca>
*Key Messages and Actions -- cuts to federal programs*
* *
*August 20, 2008, Ottawa --* The Canadian Museums Association (CMA) held
a conference call on August 19^th with provincial museums associations
to discuss a strategy for responding to recent federal government cuts
to programs in the arts, cultural and heritage sector. With an election
in the air, it is critical all of our voices are heard over these cuts.
*Background*
The federal government has confirmed cuts to several programs totalling
more than $40 million, effective in 2009-2010. This is on top of
previous cuts such as to Museums Assistance Program in 2006 and the
recent elimination of Exhibition Transportation Services.
*Our ultimate goal is to express our concern with the recent cuts and to
demonstrate broad-based, community support for developing a
comprehensive cultural policy that will enable important museum
activities to continue in the interest of Canadians, our culture and
heritage.*
These cuts are saying that museums and galleries are not important to
Canadians. This contradicts the findings in the recent public opinion
poll conducted for the CMA, which can be found at _www.museums.ca_
*Direct Advocacy from the Community*
It is extremely important that we communicate with federal MPs and other
community leaders to voice our concern and offer recommendations. If
changes like these go unchallenged, the government then concludes that
the cuts were justified.
The most effective and influential feedback comes directly from the
community back to the local MP's office. The more broad-based and
grassroots, the better. And the greater the number of individuals and
groups all calling for the same thing, the more clear and consistent the
message is to government on how they can best serve the interests of the
community and their constituents.
*Action Steps*
*
Most federal MPs are in their ridings and will remain in the
community until September 15^th . Between now and then, there is
an opportunity to bring this issue forward to local MPs and _focus
their attention on the impact that these cuts will have on their
communities._ In addition to your local MP, meetings with
community leaders are also valuable, such as the chamber of
commerce, educational leaders, and others.
*Key Messages*
*
Our local museum is incredibly popular within our community and to
tourists (provide evidence, ie. total visits per year, number of
tourists, etc.) /Note/: /This can be adapted to reflect the core
strengths of the local museum./
/ /
*
Our museum attracts businesses to invest in this community (give
examples) and enhances our quality of life. It is a "must see"
attraction for tourists and serves as a centre of meaning,
learning and exchange for the local community (xx number of
tourists, xx school tours, etc.) /Note/: /This can be adapted to
reflect the core strengths of the local museum./
*
Specific recommendation to the MP: Canada needs a clear policy
_and federal support_ for the cultural and arts sector. Ad hoc
programs and arbitrary program cuts are not good ingredients for a
sustainable future. Remind them of the promises by all parties
including the Conservatives for a new Museums Policy and more
funding- not less.
*
Museums are an important part of branding a community and setting
it apart from others. This helps in marketing the community at
home and internationally in a globalized market.
*
A comprehensive cultural policy is something that most countries
recognize as important: it creates a broader understanding of what
Canada stands for and its economic potential. We have only to look
as far as the U.S. to see how powerful culture can be in building
international profile and creating awareness.
*Tips on positioning museums with government officials, community
leaders and media:*
*
Focus on the impact on the public and on your community more than
on your museums' operations. The best way to make your case is to
be on the side of the people living in your community and what the
impact of these cuts will mean to your ability to serve their
interests.
*
Include as many community-specific details about the impact of
funding cuts as you can. Provide specific examples that illustrate
your point. This helps make it real and meaningful for the person
you're speaking to. Some examples could include:
o
"Our heritage is threatened or endangered, we cannot
properly preserve our collections"; or
o
"We cannot continue school tours or other public programs"; or
o
"These federal dollars are making it possible for us to
bring this new attraction to our museum and without it we
will not be able to make it happen. The new attraction would
have meant xx summer jobs for students and xx dollars in new
revenues." ; or
o
"Our museum is planning to be involved in this community
festival, which will attract xx tourists and infuse xx
dollars into the community, but without this funding, it
will not be possible."
Please copy CMA on your letters to your MP's so that we can monitor
developments. Please send copies to Sanita Fejzic, Communications
Manager at _sfejzic@museums.ca_ or 400-280 Metcalfe St., Ottawa,
Ontario, K2P 1R7.
-30-
*For further information: *
Sanita Fejzic
Communications Manager
_sfejzic@museums.ca_
Jim Everson
Director, Government Relations
_jeverson@magma.ca_
/Aussi disponible en français /
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<th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">Subject: </th>
<td>CMA, Communiqué: Key Messages and Actions- cuts to federal
programs [REF5360000854000008785]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">Date: </th>
<td>Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:05:00 -0400</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">From: </th>
<td>Canadian Museums Association des musées canadiens <a
class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:lmcconnell@museums.ca"><lmcconnell@museums.ca></a></td>
</tr>
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<p><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Key Messages and
Actions – cuts to federal programs</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"><b> </b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"><b>August 20, 2008,
Ottawa –</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;">
The Canadian Museums Association (CMA) held a conference call on August
19</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"><sup>th</sup></span><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"> with provincial
museums associations to discuss a strategy for responding to recent
federal government cuts to programs in the arts, cultural and heritage
sector. With an election in the air, it is critical all of our voices
are heard over these cuts.</span><span
style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Background</b></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;">The federal
government has confirmed cuts to several programs totalling more than
$40 million, effective in 2009-2010. This is on top of previous cuts
such as to Museums Assistance Program in 2006 and the recent
elimination of Exhibition Transportation Services.</span><span
style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<p align="center"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 11pt;"></span></p>
<p align="center"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Our ultimate goal is
to express our concern with the recent cuts and to demonstrate
broad-based, community support for developing a comprehensive cultural
policy that will enable important museum activities to continue in the
interest of Canadians, our culture and heritage.</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;">These cuts are saying
that museums and galleries are not important to Canadians. This
contradicts the findings in the recent public opinion poll conducted
for the CMA, which can be found at </span><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><u><a
class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.museums.ca">www.museums.ca</a></u></span><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Direct Advocacy from
the Community</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;">It is extremely
important that we communicate with federal MPs and other community
leaders to voice our concern and offer recommendations. If changes like
these go unchallenged, the government then concludes that the cuts were
justified. </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;">The most effective and
influential feedback comes directly from the community back to the
local MP’s office. The more broad-based and grassroots, the better. And
the greater the number of individuals and groups all calling for the
same thing, the more clear and consistent the message is to government
on how they can best serve the interests of the community and their
constituents.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Action Steps</b></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li style="font-size: 11pt;">
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;">Most
federal MPs are in their ridings and will remain in the community until
September 15</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"><sup>th</sup></span><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;">. Between now and then,
there is an opportunity to bring this issue forward to local MPs and </span><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"><u>focus their
attention on the impact that these cuts will have on their communities.</u></span><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"> In addition to your
local MP, meetings with community leaders are also valuable, such as
the chamber of commerce, educational leaders, and others.</span><span
style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"></span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"></span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Key Messages</b></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li style="font-size: 11pt;">
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;">Our local
museum is incredibly popular within our community and to tourists
(provide evidence, ie. total visits per year, number of tourists, etc.)
</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"><i>Note</i></span><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;">: </span><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"><i>This can be adapted
to reflect the core strengths of the local museum.</i></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"></span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"><i> </i></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li style="font-size: 11pt;">
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;">Our museum
attracts businesses to invest in this community (give examples) and
enhances our quality of life. It is a “must see” attraction for
tourists and serves as a centre of meaning, learning and exchange for
the local community (xx number of tourists, xx school tours, etc.) </span><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"><i>Note</i></span><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;">: </span><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"><i>This can be adapted
to reflect the core strengths of the local museum.</i></span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt;">
<p style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;">Specific recommendation
to the MP: Canada needs a clear policy </span><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"><u>and federal support</u></span><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"> for the cultural and
arts sector. Ad hoc programs and arbitrary program cuts are not good
ingredients for a sustainable future. Remind them of the promises by
all parties including the Conservatives for a new Museums Policy and
more funding- not less.</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt;">
<p style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;">Museums are an
important part of branding a community and setting it apart from
others. This helps in marketing the community at home and
internationally in a globalized market. </span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt;">
<p style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;">A comprehensive
cultural policy is something that most countries recognize as
important: it creates a broader understanding of what Canada stands for
and its economic potential. We have only to look as far as the U.S. to
see how powerful culture can be in building international profile and
creating awareness.</span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-left: 18pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"></span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 18pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Tips on positioning
museums with government officials, community leaders and media:</b></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li style="font-size: 11pt;">
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;">Focus on
the impact on the public and on your community more than on your
museums’ operations. The best way to make your case is to be on the
side of the people living in your community and what the impact of
these cuts will mean to your ability to serve their interests.</span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"></span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li style="font-size: 11pt;">
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;">Include as
many community-specific details about the impact of funding cuts as you
can. Provide specific examples that illustrate your point. This helps
make it real and meaningful for the person you’re speaking to. Some
examples could include:</span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<ul type="disc">
<li style="font-size: 11pt;">
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;">“Our
heritage is threatened or endangered, we cannot properly preserve our
collections”; or</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt;">
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;">“We
cannot continue school tours or other public programs”; or</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt;">
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"> “These
federal dollars are making it possible for us to bring this new
attraction to our museum and without it we will not be able to make it
happen. The new attraction would have meant xx summer jobs for students
and xx dollars in new revenues.” ; or</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt;">
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;">“Our
museum is planning to be involved in this community festival, which
will attract xx tourists and infuse xx dollars into the community, but
without this funding, it will not be possible.”</span></p>
</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<p style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;">Please copy CMA on your
letters to your MP’s so that we can monitor developments. Please send
copies to Sanita Fejzic, Communications Manager at </span><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><u><a
class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:sfejzic@museums.ca">sfejzic@museums.ca</a></u></span><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"> or 400-280 Metcalfe
St., Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 1R7. </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 10pt;" align="center"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;">-30-</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 10pt;" align="center"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 10pt;" align="center"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 10pt;" align="center"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 10pt;" align="center"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"><b>For further
information: </b></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;">Sanita Fejzic</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;">Communications
Manager</span></p>
<p><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><u><a
class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:sfejzic@museums.ca">sfejzic@museums.ca</a></u></span><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;">Jim Everson </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;">Director,
Government Relations </span></p>
<p><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><u><a
class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:jeverson@magma.ca">jeverson@magma.ca</a></u></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;"><i>Aussi disponible en
français </i></span></p>
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