Council considers multi-year funding for Brandon General Museum and Archives

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This article was published 23/08/2016 (3547 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon General Museum and Archives marked its fifth anniversary this summer, and is still very much in its “early days,” says board treasurer Barb Andrew.

The new museum has struggled to get the word out and attract visitors — last year there were 968 visitors, which is an increase from 2014.

“When you think about how long the other museums have been around, we are early days,” Andrew said. “Our location isn’t the very best; however, it was a space that came available to us, the rent is affordable for us, and when you’re starting out, you have to do what you can.”

The museum is located at 19 Ninth St. in the former Manitoba Telecom Service building. It is home to the original council chamber furniture, as well as a permanent MTS exhibit, which showcases a number of vintage phones dating back to the early 1900s. The B.J. Hales Collection of Natural History is also on display, as well as the Brandon Hills Model Railway Club.

Andrew made a presentation at a recent city council meeting, requesting a multi-year funding agreement between the city and museum.

“We are working hard to get our story out there,” Andrew said to council. “We are filling a need to preserve, tell and display Brandon’s general history. We believe that (a multi-year funding agreement) will help us to access additional funding from other sources.”

Andrew explained that to be eligible for other grants, the museum generally has to be in operation for at least five years, and applicants also must show that they have support from their community.

“We are a creature of city council, so we need to have that backing from the present council to be able to reach areas of support — not just monetary but other areas of support that can move the museum ahead,” she said.

Councillors voted in favour of drafting a multi-year agreement, which means they have authorized administration to put together a proposal for a potential agreement. Funding amounts would be part of budget deliberations, but as Mayor Rick Chrest said this will “start the conversation.”

Coun. Shawn Berry (Linden Lanes), a former chair of the heritage committee, said he was pleased to see council consider a multi-year funding agreement, as he recommended the idea a few years ago.

“Where it’s going to go from here with council, that remains to be seen but I’m certainly glad to see that it is coming forth to have that discussion,” he said.

BGMA is active on Twitter and Facebook and will soon be launching a new website. The hope is that the organization can create a buzz and get visitor numbers up.

“It just amazes me people still don’t know we’re down there,” Berry said.

Some councillors have floated the idea of moving the museum to a different location, or partnering with an existing organization, such as the Brandon Armoury.

Coun. Barry Cullen (Victoria) said the city has an obligation to support its heritage, but its current museum is still in the “prototype” stage. Cullen said he struggles to see the heritage connection with BGMA’s current exhibits, such as B.J. Hales and the model railroad display. He also expressed some concern about the low numbers.

“Museums are always a tough process for anybody these days,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what museum or what town or what city you’re in.”

Currently, BGMA is featuring “Carstruck,” a look at Brandon’s automotive history. Coming up in mid-September, an exhibit will open featuring the “remarkable women of Brandon and area,” honouring those who made major contributions to the growth in this area of southwestern Manitoba, Andrew said.

Since it opened, BGMA has requested and received funding from city council on an annual basis. City council approved $80,000 in its 2016 budget for the museum.

“The funding that the museum receives covers the operating expenses, rent, utilities, wages for one staff member as well as insurance and memberships in related organizations,” Andrew explained.

So far in 2016, there have been 453 admissions to the museum. The museum welcomes school tours, service clubs, summer camps, youth activity centre and seniors groups.

BGMA began charging a $2 admission since 2015.

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