December 19, 2017
Manitoba Strengthens Investment in Heritage Organizations
– – –Province Announces Heritage Preservation Partnership
The Manitoba government is strengthening its support for heritage organizations across the province with funding for two major capital projects and the creation of a new endowment fund for smaller organizations, Sport, Culture and Heritage Minister Cathy Cox and Municipal Relations Minister Jeff Wharton announced today.
“We have heard a strong call for greater investment from our heritage organizations across Manitoba,” Cox said during the announcement at the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada. “We are pleased to announce support for two Winnipeg institutions, which will help them attract visitors to the province and grow our economy, and we’re also pleased to create a new partnership to provide stable, long-term funding for Manitoba’s museums and archives for many years to come.”
The province announced up to $20 million for two projects in Winnipeg, which have undergone assessments to ensure they meet criteria for return on investment and value for money.
The province will contribute $8.75 million this year to the Royal Aviation Museum as part of its $45-million project on Winnipeg Airport Authority property, with another $1.25 million available next year if private donation targets are met.
The province will also contribute $10 million over five years to the Winnipeg Art Gallery’s Inuit Art Centre, a proposed $65-million programming hub to celebrate Inuit art and Indigenous cultures through exhibitions, research and education, and house studio art and learning programs for students including marginalized youth.
The province also announced a new program to support small and medium-sized museums and archives throughout Manitoba. The new Heritage Trust program provides $5 million over three years to create endowment funds within local community foundations for Manitoba museums and archives. The Heritage Trust program will provide a maximum of one provincial dollar for every two private dollars raised by qualifying heritage organizations. The program will create an incentive for communities to develop an endowment pool worth up to $15 million to support heritage projects across Manitoba.
“Just as major attractions are important to our province, so are our smaller museums, archives and heritage organizations that carefully preserve our history and provide educational opportunities to visitors,” said Wharton. “We are working with heritage organizations and community foundations across the province to create stable, long-term funding to maintain these important community infrastructure assets.”
The province will enter into a three-year agreement with The Winnipeg Foundation to work with Manitoba’s other 54 community foundations to administer the program.
“This new initiative is an exciting breakthrough because endowments provide sustainable funding that can be counted upon year after year,” said Rick Frost, chief executive officer, The Winnipeg Foundation. “The Heritage Trust program provides a unique opportunity for those wishing to support the preservation of Manitoba’s rich history.”
The ministers noted that Manitoba has nearly 200 museums and 36 archives, with about 75 per cent located in rural areas and 175 with charitable status.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION ATTACHED
Backgrounder
Backgrounder - https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/newslinks/2017/12/Backgrounder_-_RLS-Museum_Funding-SCH-MR.pdf