[BCMA] Rezoning Royal BC Museum site part of bold vision

Wed May 18 11:35:46 PDT 2011

There's both a paradox and a lesson worth noting in reading this press release, but its for political and business leaders, not museologists:

First the lesson: Prior to EXPO 86 the BCPM had free admission and hosted upwards of a million annual visitors. According to this item, it now has 400,000 come through its doors, albeit all paying customers  - but less than 40% of its height.

In a swift coup de grace aimed from its "cost recovery" plan for all public services, the Socred government of the time slapped-on the name "Royal', erected turnstiles, hired ticket-takers, initiated admission charges, and saw the attendance drop in half overnight. Moreover, all the new gate receipts just covered the wages of the new admission clerks. (Now it appears that the annual visitation has dropped a further 20% while those attendance takers salaries have increased, the main reason ticket prices keep climbing). Moreover, the RBCM could not afford to complete its natural history displays master plan, having to opt for non-BC themed blockbuster exhibitions merely to pay the rent

You can't make honey out of bear droppings.

Here's the paradox  Calling now for a huge real estate expansion (i.e "development zone") to build more storage and programming space aimed at providing more high cost exhibitions and "pre-eminent" research and educational applications while revenues from the gate drop by ten percent each generation thanks to ever-higher ticket prices simply doesn't square with itself.

Growing into greatness while shrinking at the core may work for a supernova, but not for any museum.

Dan Gallacher

----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv. 
  To: bcma at lists.vvv.com 
  Sent: Monday, May 16, 2011 1:24 PM
  Subject: [BCMA] Rezoning Royal BC Museum site part of bold vision

  ------- Forwarded message follows ------- 
  From:                         "News, RBCM RBCM:EX" <News at royalbcmuseum.bc.ca> 
  To:                            "News, RBCM RBCM:EX" <News at royalbcmuseum.bc.ca> 
  Date sent:                  Mon, 16 May 2011 12:45:28 -0700 
  Subject:                     Rezoning of Royal BC Museum site part of bold vision for future 

  [cid:image001.png at 01CBFF40.FB50AFB0]                              

  NEWS RELEASE 

  For Immediate Release 

  May 16, 2011 

  Rezoning of Royal BC Museum site part of bold vision for future 

  VICTORIA, BC - Following 16 months of extensive community consultations and open houses, the Royal BC Museum's request for rezoning of its site will go to public hearing at the May 26 Victoria City Council meeting which begins at 7:30 p.m. 

  The Royal BC Museum is asking the City of Victoria to update its zoning designation to a Comprehensive Development Zone from the current Single Family/Duplex residential zone. This change will better reflect the Royal BC Museum's operations as one of the pre-eminent research and educational institutions in the world. 

  "Rezoning is critical for the long-term care and preservation of the museum's collection," said Royal BC Museum CEO Pauline Rafferty.  "It is also the first step in realizing our vision to reach more British Columbians, forge stronger connections in communities and classrooms, and exhibit and share our stories in the most engaging ways possible." 

  The Royal BC Museum plays a unique role as guardian of the province's cultural and environmental history. It is also a major economic driver for Victoria and the province as a whole, attracting more than 400,000 visitors annually and generating an average $12 million to the local economy every year and up to $32 million during blockbuster exhibitions. 

  "The Royal BC Museum has served the people of Victoria and our province for 125 years and a comprehensive development zone is the foundation for the next 100 years," said John Williams, Chair of the Royal BC Museum Board of Directors.  "A renewed Royal BC Museum will be a showcase for made-in-B.C. technology, ingenuity, sustainable development, design and building practices and environmental initiatives. 

  "We will be judged by future generations for the decisions we make today," said Rafferty.  "We will continue to consult with the public as we plan our future as a place of inspiration and discovery. We are excited about where this can take us, and we believe British Columbians are too." 

  About the Royal BC Museum 
  As the provincial museum and archives, the Royal BC Museum preserves and shares the stories of British Columbia - on-site, off-site and online - through its research, collections, exhibitions and educational programs. Its two-hectare cultural precinct also includes a number of historically significant buildings and First Nations sites. 

  For more information on the latest activities, events and exhibitions at the Royal BC Museum, visit www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca  or call 1-888-447-7977. 

  -30- 

  Media contact:           
  Royal BC Museum Media Inquiries 
  250-387-3207 
  news at royalbcmuseum.bc.ca 

  ------- End of forwarded message ------- 

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