HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSD-18-193 - Accelerated Grant Payments for the MuseumREPORT TO:Committee of the Whole
DATE OF MEETING:December 17, 2018
SUBMITTED BY:Cory Bluhm, Executive Director, Economic Development,
519-741-2200 ext. 7065
PREPARED BY:Karoline Varin,Program Assistant Arts & Creative Industries
519-741-2200 ext. 7912
WARD (S) INVOLVED:10
DATE OF REPORT:December 13, 2018
REPORT NO.:DSD-18-193
SUBJECT:ACCELERATED GRANT PAYMENTS FOR THEMUSEUM
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RECOMMENDATION: That the 2019 grant payments for THEMUSEUMbe approved
throughReport DSD-18-193, in advance of Council budgetapproval.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Kitchener has provided an annual grant allocation to THEMUSEUMfor a number of
years. THEMUSEUM received a Tier 1 grant from the Community Grants program, and in 2017,
this funding was moved into Economic Development grants (CAO-17-015)to ensure stable
funding for the city-Kitchener Waterloo ArtGallery, Kitchener
Waterloo Symphony, and THEMUSEUM.
KCIs are large organizations that contribute to the social and economic prosperity of the KW
region,creating jobs and wealth, attracting visitors and stimulating creative thought and activity.
Reliable municipal operational funding is necessary to sustain the impact of these organizations
and to leverage funding from other levels of government and private sources.
REPORT:
The KCIs -including THEMUSEUM have identified the need for stable core funding.Funding
from the City of Kitchener, as well as the other municipalities, play an important role by
providing reliable annual operating funds.Overall, provincial funding is lower than average for
local organizations relative to their counterparts across the country.
In order to manage a challenging cash flow situation, THEMUSEUM has requested that their
grant be allocated as early as possible in January. In 2015, following the previouselection,this
challenge was acknowledged and THEMUSEUMreceived a significant percent of theirgrant in
early January.
THEMUSEUMplaysan important role in the community. In fulfilling thevision to awe, inspire
and enlighten,itattractsthousands of school age children. Once a week, it offers discount
rates to seniors to provide accessible entry. THEMUSEUM continues to develop programming
***This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994for assistance.
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aimed at young professionals, millennials, students and culture craving urbanites, with their
Museum after Dark (MAD) memberships.It sees 42% of their paid attendees arriving from
outside the Region, therebyhelping to make the downtown core more vibrant and adding
positive economic impact.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
the delivery of core service.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
None. THEMUSEUM has requested $100,000 of its annual operating grant be provided in early
January. In 2018, THEMUSEUM received $143,200. Staff anticipate recommending the same
grant plus inflation in 2019. Approving the request would only prove problematic if Council, as
part of the budget process, approves a grant of less than $100,000.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM
council / committee meeting.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Justin Readman, GM Development Services
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