The Quinte Natural History Museum project has suffered throughout the COVID-19 pandemic much like many other businesses, people and projects have.
At Monday’s Quinte West council meeting council heard an update on the goings on with the project from Executive Director York Lethbridge.
Lethbridge outlined the five year plan which includes steady fundraising goals each year in the $30,000 range, attempting to access various grants and different avenues of funding, and the launch of a capital campaign.
While Lethbridge admitted that it has been a struggle throughout the pandemic to make the gains they were hoping to make with the project, he did touch on an agreement they struck with Research Casting International in regards to its newly renovated exhibition space at the Morton Parker building on Dufferin Avenue in Trenton.
“As part of this agreement, RCI will lease Exploration Exhibits to Quinte Museum for a flat annual fee and allow us to take responsibility for the exhibit space and develop startup operations.”
Lethbridge also described the positive impact the Exploration Exhibits will have on the community and the museum project.
“The immediate benefit of opening the museum in this way is to provide a new tourism asset to attract visitors to, and tourism spending in, Quinte West. We’re looking at low cost admissions to promote access for local residents, so currently $5 or $6 as an entry fee. An educational resource for regional schools which we are hoping to start in the next number of months. Continuous programming March through October on an annual basis, so the expectation is that the displays will be changed out on an annual basis. Establishing visitor traffic patterns to or near the permanent museum site which exists directly behind the Morton Parker building. Building profile for a new organization with ambitions to grow and testing museum programs in real time that will contribute to Quinte Museum’s mission.”
When faced with skepticism about why they were requesting $50,000 from the municipality if they were having success in some areas, Lethbridge specified that it is a non-profit organization and that they need kickstart money.
Suzanne Andrews, who also sits on the board for the museum, said that while they are asking for $50,000, $40,000 of it will go into reserves for 2022.
Lethbridge said that they have faced significant difficulty in securing financial commitments from the private sector due to the lack of a public face, but that the five year plan and the plans for the exhibit at the Morton Parker building will help them have something to show when it comes to engaging with the private sector, where he said there is “significant interest.”
Councillor Michael Kotsovos interjected to speak about what the commitment that council made to the museum will mean to the community.
“If we look at the bigger picture, the $50,000 isn’t necessarily going to their operating budget. You can look at it as benefiting the youth of our municipality. With that money they can keep the costs low for student trips and things like that because otherwise it’s hard for some students to be able to afford class trips and also in our strategic plan we’re looking at also promoting art and culture and I think this is an excellent opportunity to do that.”
Councillor Terry Cassidy echoed Kotsovos’ comments, saying they need to follow through on their commitment to the museum even if it will take a while.
Council voted on and approved the release of $50,000 to the board for the Quinte Museum of Natural History.
