2021-01-13

Province’s program to fund town museum needs change, say Bridgewater politicians

The Bridgewater-owned DesBrisay Museum put civic politicians on notice that it wants a 60 per cent funding increase in the next budget to move two part-time positions to full-time status due to challenges in securing volunteer help.

The Jubilee Road facility seeks a $47,581 operational funding increase in fiscal year 2021-22, which, if approved, raises the town's annual subsidy for the museum to $122,581 from $75,000.

"Although we can tread water with staffing that we have, as our volunteer community ages, without renewal our programs and services will be at risk," Lynette de Montreuil, the museum's culture, heritage and events coordinator, told a recent meeting of town council.

More staffing is vital if elected officials want to pursue broadening the facility's community role, she said.

"This would be an investment in the continued growth and sustainability of our programs that serve many of our residents in Bridgewater and supports council's vision to position our town as a great place to live, work, play and grow," de Montreuil said during the meeting, live-streamed on the internet.

"Providing this community-based care alleviates a burden that would otherwise fall on other town or community services. Your contribution to the museum is an investment in the health and well-being of our community as a whole," she said.

Bridgewater's grant to the facility used to be six-figures, but it was cut by more than half in 2016, and since then has remained at $75,000.

The museum, complete with permanent gallery and exhibit areas, is one of the oldest municipally-owned collection and first purpose-built museums in the province. It's undergone a refresh in recent years, leading to expanded services and offerings. Visitor attendance skyrocketed in 2019 and respectable numbers were reflected in 2020, despite a four-month closure due to COVID-19 public health protocols. It also finished in top spot in a community museum assistance program evaluation sanctioned by the Association of Nova Scotia Museums in 2019.

The museum receives an annual subsidy from the province's Department of Community, Culture and Heritage (CCH) under a funding program designed for community museums.

Despite favourable evaluations, the provincial subsidy has stayed in the $52,000-range since at least fiscal year 2009-10.

"There were talks with communities, culture and heritage - just preceding COVID-19 - about that funding structure and how it did need to improve," de Montreuil told council of the provincial commitment. "It needs addressing," she added, "and they understand it."

According to a written report prepared by de Montreuil, the DesBrisay Museum loses the annual provincial funding if it's not open year-round. Pandemic-linked emergency aid packages have helped offset lost revenues and allowed projects to proceed, she wrote.

Bridgewater's mayor, David Mitchell, hopes the province steps up with a better funding scenario.

"You've done your job, we've done our job," Mitchell said, gesturing in de Montreuil's direction. "There's one more partner in this ..."

Andrew Tanner, Bridgewater's deputy mayor, shared his colleague's critical view.

"The province has a habit of selling us on a great deal," Tanner said during the meeting, "and then nothing ever increases ..."

A CCH spokesman didn't answer specific questions pertaining to when the local museum can expect a boost in grant funding, nor why the level of support hasn't moved for so long.

"The department is in the process of updating the program," Matt Lumley told LighthouseNOW in an email. "These program changes are planned to take effect in the 2021-2022 fiscal year."

Community-based museums, including the DesBrisay Museum, were consulted as recently as October, he said.

A February 2020 ministerial briefing note from the CCH, obtained by LighthouseNOW, indicated work was ongoing to modernize all programs, grants and funding.

The province's community museum assistance funding program divvies up nearly $1 million annually in operational assistance to 65 entities, including the DesBrisay Museum.