Canadian Museums Are Suffering

Canada may lose some museums due to a federal government funding freeze, says the Canadian Museums Association. Responding to suggestions that there will be no new money for the museums when the Conservative government announces its museum strategy this fall, the association says the museum assistance funding program has been frozen at $9 million since 1972. CBC reports John McAvity, Director of the Canadian Museum Association, warning that the budget should be $75 million a year or smaller museums will be closed and larger ones will suffer.

Examples of constraints faced by federal museums are:

• The Canadian Museum of Nature is closing part of its building because it can't afford repairs.
• The Museum of Science and Technology can only display five percent of its collection because it has no more exhibition space.
• The Canadian Museum of Civilization is paying $400,000 a year to maintain the empty building that used to house the Canadian War Museum because it doesn't have the money required to restore the heritage building to attract a new occupant.

More on Museums and Art Galleries in Canada
Federal Museums in Canada
Art Galleries in Canada