Museum seeks 3.1 per cent funding request increase

by Lucie Roy

The Musée Morinville Museum is looking for another $3000 in funding this year, a 3.1 per cent increase from the $94,000 requested last year.

Murray Knight, Treasurer for the Musée Morinville Museum, presented the Historical and Cultural Society’s Proposed Operating Budget for 2016 to Council during their Oct. 13 Committee of the Whole meeting.

With grants and a new category for sponsorship opportunities, casino funding, meeting room rentals, donations and the $97,000 request the total proposed revenue is $122,700. The bulk of the operational costs is approximately $50,000 in rent for the museum location.

Knight said grants are uncertain and that the inclusion of sponsorship provides an opportunity for businesses or individuals to sponsor a room or display in the museum.

According to Knight’s presentation, 1943 people had visited the museum by the end of September, an average of 216 people per month. That is an increase of almost 200 over the 1776 who visited the museum in 2014.

Knight told Council of the many accomplishments over the last year, including hosting the annual Canada Day event, their involvement in the Town Christmas Festival, a $500 Scholarship at the Morinville Community High School, support to the Knights of Columbus Christmas Hamper Program, and the Annual Easter Egg Hunt. The latter event will be handed to Community Services in 2016 as the Historical and Cultural Society focus in another direction.

New undertakings for 2016 include a Bank of Canada exhibit, Art exhibit and community meetings with the Town regarding an outdoor museum at the new 77.2 acres recreation facility location. The museum has an interest in using the 1940s barn and 1920s house on the property.

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