By Marie Nyhus
Following a large federal grant, national cultural institutions say they are prepared to work for more private funding, but smaller organizations may be unable to generate such financial support.
In December, the government contributed almost $100 million over five years for urgent maintenance and infrastructure repairs to four Ottawa museums and the National Arts Centre.
The NAC was the major beneficiary, receiving more than $56 million over three years to update its fire alarm system, leaking waterproof surfaces and elevators that do not meet accessibility standards.
The Canadian Museum of Nature will receive $2.8 million over four years for repairs to its National Heritage Building in Gatineau.
Despite the contribution, former Treasury Board president John Baird indicated that Canadian museums must be prepared to seek more private funding in the future. He referred to a $2-million grant from Talisman Energy Inc. which helped build the Canadian Museum of Nature’s $5.7-million fossil gallery.
“We’ve got to see more of that in our national institutions,” Baird was quoted in the Ottawa Citizen.
Both the National Arts Centre and the Canadian Museum of Nature indicate they were prepared for the message.
“It’s not the first time it’s been said,” said the museum’s president, Joanne DiCosimo.
Since January 2002, the nature museum has raised 70 per cent of the $10 million goal set in an ongoing fundraising campaign. Likewise, the NAC raised $6 million through private funding last year.
“[Private funding] has not posed any problems for us,” says Jayne Watson, spokesperson for the NAC. “I think it’s a good thing that we have to engage the community,” said.
But David B. Flemming, president of Heritage Ottawa, is critical. He fears that the government is moving towards a course where public funding will be tied to private funding.
This means that a government donation will only be given on the condition that the museum will raise the same amount of money from the private sector.
“Large museums have people responsible for marketing and fundraising,” Fleming says. “But small museums with maybe two or four people working full time don’t have the time to do that. They are trying. I am just not sure they can meet the expectations of Mr. Baird.”
Although national museums seem prepared to raise an increasing amount of funding from the private sector, they say they will always depend on federal government support.
Whereas the fossil gallery at the Canadian Museum of Nature is highly visible, concert-goers at the National Arts Centre may forget to consider backstage lighting or fire alarms. And DiCosimo says private funding must be visible.
“Our buildings belong to the federal government. But private funding enables us to make exhibitions better or bigger. It adds some of the finishing touches.”