The
Manitoba Museum - First Arts Stabalization
Client
September 4, 2002
The
Manitoba Museum has become the first arts or cultural
organization to qualify for the Manitoba Arts Stabilization
Program. Approval was announced by Arthur Mauro, Chair
of Arts Stabilization Manitoba (ASM)
The six million dollar program,
designed to bring stability and sustainability to not-for-profit
arts and cultural organizations through improved business
practices, was launched earlier this year. It is supported
by major contributions from the three levels of government,
the Winnipeg Foundation and private sector foundations,
corporations and individuals.
The program calls for an approved organization to undergo
a thorough assessment and evaluation of its operations
by a leading firm of business consultants who will recommend
improvements and best practices to be adopted to make
for a more successful, sustainable operation. This consultation
is paid for by ASM.
The organization will then present a five-year business
plan to ASM jointly prepared and committed to by its
volunteer board of directors, administration and creative
program leadership. On approval of the plan, ASM will
make working capital grants of up to 20% of the organization’s
earned income, to a maximum of $500,000, payable in
four annual installments. The organization’s performance
in achieving the goals set out in its business plan
is monitored on an on-going basis by a special committee
of ASM until the total grant has been earned.
The Manitoba Museum has an annual budget of $6.5 Million.
It employs 100 full, part-time and seasonal employees.
During the past record year, total attendance was close
to one million visitors and participants in Museum programs.
ASM's Manitoba Museum Sub-Committee is made up of volunteer
Board Members Ian Wright, Chair (past President of the
Manitoba Liquor Control Commission) and Sandra Foster
President, People, Process and Technology Inc.); as
well as community representatives, Edward Kennedy, (President
and CEO of The North West Company), and Sidney Halpern,
(Consultant and former apparel industry executive).
The Manitoba Consortium, led by The Exchange Consulting
Group are the management consultants retained by the
Museum, selected by it from a panel of major business
consultants in Manitoba. The consultation process has
been underway since the beginning of July.
“The Manitoba Museum greatly appreciates the opportunity
to work with Arts Stabilization Manitoba to review and
strengthen our business capacity in order to achieve
long term sustainability”, said Jamie Dolynchuk,
President and Chair of the Museum’s Board of Directors.
Hugh Goldie, project leader for the Manitoba Consortium
group of consultants, commented, “The Manitoba
Consortium is pleased to be involved in this first Arts
Stabilization review. A healthy arts community is critical
to the quality of life enjoyed by Winnipeg’s citizens,
and a cornerstone of the Mayor’s plan to help
our city grow and prosper. We believe we are making
a contribution to that goal.”
“The Manitoba Museum is proud to have posted our
10th consecutive balanced budget, and is committed to
continued financial responsibility and the on-going
enhancement of our programs”, noted Claudette
Leclerc, the Museum’s Executive Director. “Our
Board and staff are striving to reach a balance between
long-term financial stability and heritage excellence.”
Harold Buchwald, Arts Stabilization Manitoba’s
executive director, reported that the Art Gallery of
Southwestern Manitoba in Brandon has also qualified
for the Manitoba Arts Stabilization Program. Three or
four other major arts organizations are approaching
qualification, as are a number of smaller groups for
the “Builder Program” which provides more
modest grants.
Buchwald anticipates that at least twelve (12) larger
organizations and forty (40) smaller ones will eventually
participate. Eligibility criteria include a balanced
budget at the time of applying. Also, if the organization
has an accumulated deficit, it may not exceed
25% of its operating budget and there must be a realistic
plan to retire it.
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For further information contact:
Harold Buchwald, Arts Stabilization
Manitoba
(204) 953-5100
Claudette Leclerc, The
Manitoba Museum
(204) 988-0630
Hugh Goldie, The Exchange Group
(204) 947-7139 |
