Linda Kane – Winner of this year’s CMA/CFFM Museum Volunteer Award

At the Awards Dinner held in St. John’s on May 12th during the National Conference of the Canadian Museums Association, Linda Kane received the CMA/CFFM Museum Volunteer Award as outstanding museum volunteer for her work at the Cupids Museum and within her community.

The opening of the Museum in 1995 under her leadership was a pivotal event. The museum started with no money, no staff, no artefacts… in two empty classrooms. Under her guidance the Museum has grown to an award-winning community museum that this year has become the primary focus of the 400th anniversary of the founding of the first English settlement in Canada by John Guy in 1610.

Linda Kane has upgraded her skills (always at her own expense) by attending training in museum studies provided by the Museum Association of NL. She has participated in many workshops and seminars to remain current in the latest developments in museum management. She has designed exhibits and helped with construction and set-up. In 2001 she received the Manning Award from the Historic Sites Association of Newfoundland and Labrador for her exhibition on outport schooling, “Present Miss”.

She has trained and supervised dozens of volunteers and summer students to work as interpreters. Linda is truly the driving force behind every aspect of running a successful community museum. Her example has inspired heritage groups from other Newfoundland communities to consult her for advice on establishing their own museums.

Linda Kane has made Cupids a tourist attraction. Linda’s service has had a significant impact on heritage appreciation of people in Cupids and visitors from near and far. For that reason, the Mayor and Council of the Town of Cupids supported her nomination for this Award.

Among the many museum outreach programs initiated by Linda, we’ll just mention one example: a school-based stamp design contest that has grown from a local activity to a province-wide project this year to mark the 400th anniversary of Cupids.

Through her work as a member of the Board of Directors of Cupids 400 Inc. she will see the culmination of her 15 years as a museum volunteer result in the creation of the new Cupids Legacy Centre – a new interpretation centre that is the core project of the Cupids 400th anniversary celebration.

The recipient of the annual CMA/CFFM Museum Volunteer Award is selected based on the following criteria:

• Value: Nominee contributed a valued service to the museum and the community;
• Innovation: Nominee initiated new programs or activities and used new methods to solve problems;
• Achievement: Nominee accomplished desired results;
• Impact: The activity or service produced positive changes and provides examples for other groups;
• Time: Amount of time devoted to the activity or service was significant;
• Dedication: The nominee demonstrated ongoing dedication and commitment to volunteerism and to the cultural and heritage field.

Linda Kane embodies all these qualities to the fullest. We wish her many more years of happy volunteering – Linda has made a difference and continues to do so!

The Cultural Access Pass

The Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) in partnership with the Canadian Museums Association (CMA) have announced the expansion of the Cultural Access Pass (CAP) program to 12 galleries and museums in the National Capital Region.

The Cultural Access Pass was launched in April 2008 in the Greater Toronto Area with six galleries and museums. Twenty-three museums and galleries in the GTA are now participating in the program, along with nine museums and galleries in the Kitchener and Waterloo region and four in Montreal. The program allows new citizens free admission for a full year from the date they are sworn in as Canadians.

The ICC is a national, non-profit organization founded and co-chaired by the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson and John Ralston Saul dedicated to engaging Canadians about citizenship. www.icc-icc.ca

The CMA is the national organization for the advancement of the Canadian museum sector, representing Canadian museum professionals both within Canada and internationally. www.museums.ca

CFFM Annual General Meeting

The AGM was held on March 22 at the Art Gallery of Toronto. Your new Board of Directors for 2010-11:

Cynthia Armour

William Barkley

Barbara Bloor (Treasurer)

Tony Bowland

Yves Dagenais

Susan Down

Joan Goldfarb (Co-President)

Peter Homulos (National Director)

Marie Tremblay-McNiven (Co-President)

Pauline Rafferty

Doris Smith

Martha Wilder

Members of the Nominating Committee:

Martha Wilder, Bill Barkley,

Marie Tremblay-McNiven and Jean Read.

The following members of the Advisory Council were reconfirmed:

Flora Agnew, Richard Alward, Jo Breyfogle, Louis Dussault, Morris Flewwelling, Sean Murphy, Bill Peters, Jean Read, Margot Magee Sackett, Jocelyn Shaw, Suzanne Stohn.

Two New Board Members

Yves Dagenais began his involvement in museums in 1982 as Director of Administration and Finance for the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, where he achieved very positive results in the areas of fundraising and self-generated revenues as well as overall resource management. In 1988, he joined the National Gallery of Canada as Deputy Director and later Vice Director, principally responsible for operations.

After retiring from the Gallery in 2000, Mr. Dagenais became a part-time Advisor in Museum Management, sharing his experience with a medium-sized Montreal Museum on issues such as Board Governance, Performance Management, Strategic Planning, Budgets and Policies.

He has been a regular panelist or chairman of discussions for the Canadian Museums Association on key issues such as fundraising, sponsorship and performance and has animated workshops and seminars for the Société des Musées Québecois.

In 2002, in recognition of his contributions to the museum community in Canada, he was named a Fellow of the Canadian Museums Association (FCMA), the highest distinction bestowed by the CMA upon one of its members and is currently the secretary of the group of Fellows. He is still involved in some of the important issues of the CMA, part icularly that of group insurance.

Susan Down is managing director at the Canadian Newspaper Association, based in Toronto. She has had a long newspaper career both as a marketing manager and as a feature writer whose work has appeared in The Toronto Star, National Post and numerous Canwest papers and magazines. She holds degrees from Carleton and Royal Roads and has taken museum studies courses at the University of Victoria. She served an internship at the Royal BC Museum and worked for the Maritime Museum of BC, later serving on its board of directors.

REBORN AT 100: A new face for the Canadian Museum of Nature

The Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa – Canada’s national natural history museum – has undergone an extensive make-over. Its 100-year-old public exhibitions building has been completely renovated. It now boasts entirely new galleries, special exhibition spaces, modern amenities, beautifully restored heritage elements, and a handsome glass “lantern” atop its main entrance.

An integral part of the renewal project has been the 186 museum volunteers whose dedication and support – in such areas as collections, educational programmes and Grand Reopening festivities – have undeniably contributed to the successful rebirth of this venerable historic museum. Volunteers will continue to play an active role, as they have for more than 30 years, as the Museum presents its new face to Canadians. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Katherine Day, Volunteer Coordinator at kday@mus-nature.ca or by telephone at 613-566-4261.

Rich with history, the building is a designated national historic site and has been home to many of our national museums at some point. Prime ministers have addressed audiences within its walls, and one (Sir Wilfrid Laurier) lay in state there in 1919.

Carved in stone above the doors is the name, Victoria Memorial Museum. Constructed from 1905-10, the museum was a tribute to Queen Victoria who died in 1901. Its castle-like design is a combination of Tudor Gothic (turrets and crenellations) and the symmetrical École des Beaux-Arts. Originally an imposing stone tower rose above the main entrance. Unfortunately, it had to be removed by 1915 as the Leda clay upon which the museum was built could not support its heavy weight.

In 2004, work began on rehabilitating the aging building, which would include major mechanical, electrical and structural upgrades to bring it into the 21st century. New galleries would be installed, and a glass lantern with enclosed “butterfly” staircase would be erected. Heritage elements would be fully restored, from the marble staircase to the stained glass windows to the mosaic tile floor.

On May 22, 2010, the Canadian Museum of Nature’s Board of Trustees, staff and volunteers will proudly unveil the completed building. Opening that day are the new Water Gallery, with a 19-metre blue whale skeleton, only one of two in Canada; a new Earth Gallery, with 1,000 dazzling minerals from the Museum’s collections as well as a two-metre high HD globe; a live specimen exhibition, Animalium; a new HD theatre, renovated Salon, and two special shows, AQUA and Frogs – A Chorus of Colours. These join the other galleries that have been opened since 2006 – the Talisman Energy Fossil Gallery, Mammal Gallery, Bird Gallery and Discovery Zone.

For more information about the Canadian Museum of Nature’s history, renovation and programmes, visit www.nature.ca.

Dan Smythe

Web sites of interest:

www.culturedays.ca

About Culture Days

Culture Days is a collaborative pan-Canadian volunteer movement to raise the awareness, accessibility, participation and engagement of all Canadians in the arts and cultural life of their communities. A national Steering Committee, together with provincial committees (known as Provincial Task Forces) are self-mobilizing at the grassroots level to implement concurrent annual province-wide public participation events each September beginning in 2010. The annual, concurrent Culture Days events across Canada will feature free, hands-on, interactive activities that invite the public to participate “behind the scenes,” to discover the world of artists, creators, historians, architects, curators, and designers… in their community.

In support of these annual provincial events, Culture Days will drive a major annual national communications and public relations campaign designed to help inspire and catalyze greater public participation in the arts and cultural life of our communities.

Culture Days is a collaborative movement that relies on your participation. Everyone has a role they can play, as a citizen, as a business person, as a cultural professional, on behalf of an organization, or in any other way you can imagine. You can be among the first to join this exciting new cross-country network by first subscribing to Culture Days e-bulletins, and inviting your friends, family and colleagues to join the movement.

Hill Strategies Research

www.HillStrategies.com

On March 30, Hill Strategies Research published Volunteers in Arts and Culture Organizations in Canada in 2007. The report contains details about arts and culture volunteers, volunteer hours, volunteer activities, reasons for volunteering demographic characteristics of volunteers, changes in volunteering, and provincial data. The full report is available for free at their web site.

Meetings and Conferences

This spring the Canadian Museums Association invited members of CFFM to join them in a special visit to the 2010 World’s Fair in Shanghai China from June 20-24. Information about participating in this event was published in timely fashion on our web site, www.cffm-fcam.ca.

We invite you to check out our web site regularly for breaking news.

Regional Events

On October 21st, CFFM in Ottawa will present a free public lecture by Simon Brault: “No Culture, No Future: the urgency of renewing public engagement with arts and culture in Canada”.

The lecture will take place at 7 pm in the Canadian Museum of Nature and is a joint project of CFFM, Friends of Library and Archives Canada, the Volunteers’ Circle of the National Gallery and others. CFFM has the support of the City of Ottawa and the Council for the Arts in Ottawa. For details, contact the editor at aucourant@museums.ca.

On Heritage Day, February 16th, CFFM was represented at Ottawa City Hall by Peter Homulos, our National Director, Doris Smith, your editor and Gerry Glavin of our Editorial Advisory Board. Over 1,000 visitors toured the displays.

Deadline for submission of copy for the Autumn 2010 issue is August 15th. Articles and news items for our web site can be submitted at any time for consideration. Check out the web site for new links and articles! Especially Arts and Minds which deals with the situation in Ottawa but will have relevance to other cities as well.

It is CFFM policy to respect and protect personal information and an individual’s right to privacy in compliance with current legal requirements. CFFM does not lend or sell its membership information.

CFFM is a charitable organization registered under # BN 11883 0876 RR 0001

au courant is the newsletter published by Canadian Federation of Friends of Museums

400 – 280 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa, ON K2P 1R7

Telephone: 613-567-0099 ext. 260; Fax 613-233-5438

e-mail: cffm@museums.ca web site: www.cffm-fcam.ca

Editor: Doris M. Smith, e-mail: aucourant@museums.ca

Editorial Advisory Board: Michel Cheff and Gerald Glavin

Translation: Michel Joanis

CE BULLETIN EST AUSSI DISPONIBLE EN FRANÇAIS

Arts and Minds

Paul Dewar

A new parliamentary arts caucus made up of MPs and senators from all parties has come together to serve as a forum for dialogue with Canada’s arts and culture community.

Despite the importance of arts to our cultural identity and economic viability, political debates and decisions regarding arts and culture have often been out of touch with the real importance of arts to our communities. The all-party arts caucus aims to provide a forum for artists and people working in the culture sector to speak directly with parliamentarians from all parties.

The idea of the caucus was developed at a meeting I had with Nancy Oakley, general manager at the Ottawa-based Great Canadian Theatre Company. She said artists want to reach MPs on a more regular and informal basis to help us better understand the arts sector. Together we thought of a solution which may prove much more effective than usual lobbying.

Our hope is to bridge the huge chasm between decision-makers and artists. We hope there will be a lot less ignorance among decision-makers.

An impressive group of MPs and Senators have been involved in the first stages of developing the group. We have elected Denise Savoie, New Democrat MP for Victoria, as the chair of the group and she’s already undertaken organizing further meetings and opportunities for dialogue between the group and the arts community.

We have begun with the basics. At its first meeting, the group took a wide view of the arts scene in our country and the larger challenges that the community faces.

Meanwhile, I have engaged with the arts community in Ottawa through a series of consultations to identify solutions that will support and improve arts and culture. Community members offered their ideas to address the economic challenges of artists: from restructuring tax systems including income averaging, to increasing demands for arts products through tax incentives. They emphasized the importance of education and developing our community’s arts and culture reputation.

These ideas will be reported to the arts caucus once the House is back in session.

The economic viability of our cultural sector creates thousands of jobs in every region of the country. I hope discussions in this arts caucus will improve the quality of debate and decision-making in our country when it comes to arts and culture.

Paul Dewar is a New Democrat Member of Parliament representing Ottawa Centre.

Heritage and Museum Networks — Making an impact in Ottawa

CHOO/COPO is the Council of Heritage Organizations in Ottawa/ le Conseil des organismes du patrimoine d’Ottawa — a heritage service organization representing the interests of over 60 local heritage groups in the Ottawa area. This includes museums, archives, historical and genealogical societies, friends of groups, and a host of other heritage-related organizations. Through these member organizations CHOO/COPO represents approximately 7,500 individuals.

Formed in 1992 as a not-for-profit and registered charity run by volunteers, CHOO/COPO has grown into a professionally run organization with two full-time staff. CHOO/COPO is a grassroots organization that encourages partnerships and communication throughout Ottawa’s diverse heritage community. The staff and Board of Directors believe that by sharing experiences, resources and best practices amongst local heritage organizations we are strengthening the entire sector. As a united and strong voice we are able to mobilize heritage supporters quickly to respond to issues and concerns. CHOO/COPO was originally formed to address municipal heritage issues but over the last few years has also become a voice at both the provincial and federal levels.

Since their inception in 2007, the Ottawa Museum Network has worked on initiatives involving the 11 museums funded by the City of Ottawa. These museums include 3 city-owned and operated sites – Billings Estate Museum Historic Site, Pinhey’s Point Historic Site and the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, as well as 8 community museums — Bytown Museum, Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum, Goulbourn Museum, Nepean Museum, Osgoode Township Historical Society & Museum, Vanier Museoparc, Watson’s Mill and Workers’ Heritage Centre. The OMN develops centralized marketing and advertising campaigns to provide a level of exposure that would be impossible for each of the 11 sites to accomplish on their own. A pilot project organized and administered by the OMN to share the services of a professional conservator to assess collections and undertake artefact treatments is currently underway. Funded in part by MAP and the Ontario Trillium Foundation — the project is another example of how sharing resources across a network of museums can provide each site with services that are out of reach of individual sites working in isolation.

For more information about CHOO/COPO www.choocopo.ca or info@choocopo.ca

For more information about OMN www.OttawaMuseumNetwork.com or omn-rmo@bellnet.ca

A New Museum

We welcome the new Art Gallery of Alberta: a new and daring look without and a commitment to excellence within.

News from Parliament

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance has tabled its report on the pre-budget consultations and has recommended significant investments in arts and culture. The report includes a recommendation that the federal government develop funding strategies for long-term sustainability of non-national museums.

A New CFFM Board Member: Pauline RaffertyPauline Rafferty brings an ideal mix of knowledge, skills and experience to the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Royal BC Museum. A trained archaeologist, her work first centered on archaeology, then on heritage interpretation, from supervising survey crews and managing grant processes for heritage-project proponents to meeting the marketing and financial needs at provincial sites such as Fort Steele and Barkerville. In 1990, Pauline was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Women’s Equality. She joined the Royal BC Museum to help the institution develop a new business focus and held responsibilities for finance, marketing, human resources and information systems.

With her appointment as CEO in 2001, Pauline set out to achieve several objectives. Among the successes so far: transforming the RBCM to a Crown corporation; seeing a new Museum Act implemented; having title for Cultural Precinct lands transferred to the RBCM Corporation; and achieving greater financial self-sufficiency. Still on Pauline’s list of things to accomplish: bringing to fruition the RBCM’s master redevelopment plan, with new state-of-the-art collections facility; putting in place stable, multi-year plans for programs and exhibits; and advancing the work already begun on the RBCM’s strategic research and collection plans.

Pauline has been honoured for her work at the RBCM with awards from the Canadian Museum Association, Tourism BC and other organizations. She serves on the boards of the National Capital Commission’s marketing and programming advisory board, the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Victoria and Advisory Committee for the University of Victoria Cultural Resource Management Program. Pauline is currently the President of the Alliance of Natural History Museums of Canada.

CFFM Board Nominations Request

The CFFM Board is looking for Board Directors with experience and expertise in the areas of government relations and advocacy, business and/or association experience and volunteer management. As well we are looking for the next generation of young people.

We are always looking for individuals who have a passion for museums and galleries.

It is an exciting time to join CFFM, as we are about to embark on an ambitious project – a National Museum Volunteer Survey.

The Board meets about six times a year in Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal. Those unable to attend in person can participate by teleconference. We are a Governance/Hands-on Working Board where directors are encouraged to “roll up their sleeves” and get involved. Committees include Nominations, Fundraising, Advocacy, Communications and Membership.

Please forward your suggestions to Zehra Mawani in the CFFM office at: cffm@museums.ca by March 12th to be included in the 2010 Nominations Slate for a three-year term.

This year’s Annual General Meeting of CFFM will be held on March 22 in Toronto, at the Art Gallery of Ontario. All members will receive detailed information ahead of time and are invited to attend.

Heritage Day 2010

Your Ottawa office will be represented at the Heritage Day celebrations on February 16th in Ottawa City Hall. We will have a table with information and handouts about CFFM and hope to spread the word among the hundreds of visitors who attend this yearly event. We shall also be handing out brochures and information sheets about our member organizations in the Capital Region.

How will you be celebrating Heritage Day? If you wish to share your experiences with our readers, send information to aucourant@museums.ca and we will include it in our Summer 2010 issue.

Recognizing Volunteers

The five members of the jury to select the winner of the joint CMA/CFFM Museum Volunteer Award met on January 22nd. The decision was not easy — all 15 applications had great merit. However, one winner emerged and will be recognized during the CMA Awards Dinner in St. John’s on May 12th.

For a somewhat different way of recognizing out-standing contributions, consider what the Alberta Museums Association does. They recognize out-standing service in four categories: Innovation, Leadership, Sustainability and Outreach.

Awards were won by members of staff, a committee, an institution and an individual volunteer.

CONFERENCES OF INTEREST

Membership has its privileges! As a member of CFFM you are invited to attend two upcoming

WFFM Meetings:

North American Regional Meeting in Washington April 19 and 20.

Council Meeting in Lisbon, May 20 – 23. You will find details on both meetings on our web site.

Canadian Museums Association

May 10 – 15, 2010 in St. John’s, Nfld. and Labrador

This year’s theme will be “Evolving Boundaries: Linking People, Place and Meaning.”

CFFM is again sponsoring the Carol Sprachman Memorial Lecture. This year’s speaker will be Jeffrey Simpson, National affairs columnist at The Globe and Mail who will present a sweeping perspective on the geo-political trends affecting museums from politics to tourism.

Members of CFFM are entitled to attend the CMA conference at CMA members’ rates.

Alberta Museums Association

September 23 – 25, 2010 in Edmonton, AB.

This year’s them is Place-Making: Museums and Building Community. Place-making can be defined as “the art of creating public places of the soul” that uplift and help us connect to each other.” It is about design of public space, experiences within public space, and empowering those that engage within that space.

Deadline for submission of copy for the Summer 2010 issue is May 23rd. Articles and news items for our web site can be submitted at any time for consideration. Check out the web site for new links and articles! Especially Arts and Minds which deals with the situation in Ottawa but will have relevance to other cities as well.

It is CFFM policy to respect and protect personal information and an individual’s right to privacy in compliance with current legal requirements. CFFM does not lend or sell its membership information.

CFFM is a charitable organization registered under # BN 11883 0876 RR 0001

au courant is the newsletter published by Canadian Federation of Friends of Museums

400 – 280 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa, ON K2P 1R7

Telephone: 613-567-0099 ext. 260; Fax 613-233-5438

e-mail: cffm@museums.ca web site: www.cffm-fcam.ca

Editor: Doris M. Smith, e-mail: aucourant@museums.ca

Editorial Advisory Board: Michel Cheff and Gerald Glavin

Translation: Michel Joanis

CE BULLETIN EST AUSSI DISPONIBLE EN FRANÇAIS

 The CFFM — Quo vadis?

CFFM should be the national voice to promote museums for the benefit of all Canadians. We have existed in Canada for over thirty years. Our hope is to continue to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas among Canadian and international Friends. We would also like to be able to promote and enhance the volunteer component of our museum community. Our mission is to provide resources for Friends of museums whether they are trustees, docents, ‘operational’ volunteers or simply individuals who are passionate about the preservation of our heritage.

At a recent meeting of the Ontario Museums Association, Peter Homulos, our National Director, lead a session to discuss the traditional relationship between volunteers and staff in the museum setting. He explored some of the tensions that have existed over the years. Many institutions in this country were run by volunteers. Sometimes the evolution to institutions run by paid staff was not easy. Fears have existed on both sides but mostly volunteers are valued by their institutions and the value of volunteer work is recognized and appreciated.

There are estimated to be over 300,000 volunteers in Canada. Volunteers can do what institutions cannot. They have a voice that can be heard and that should be effective to bring about change and support. They are a most valued asset. They are our most passionate advocates and link institutions to the communities they serve.

Our path forward

CFFM now wants to understand the needs of our museums and their volunteers in a much deeper way than we have been able to in the past. We are hoping to survey museums and volunteers and through the information gathered create a strategy to strengthen the volunteer experience and help our volunteers become better advocates for the museum community. Based on your response our goal will be to develop programmes to meet your expressed need.

To accomplish any of this we need your support and renewed membership. We also need you to go to your institutions and friends and help us make the case for wider membership. There is so much that can be accomplished. The need is real. But the need cannot be met without your participation.

We are always open and receptive to your responses. Please feel free to share your ideas and opinions re CFFM either by participating in our survey or simply by letting us know what you are doing in your museums or community.

Our path ahead is not easy, but it is important and together much can be accomplished.

Joan Goldfarb

Co-President, CFFM

What is this World Federation of Friends of Museums?

By Daniel Ben-Natan, President of WFFM

When I was first elected Treasurer of the WFFM (Bruges, 2002), my friends and colleagues asked me: “What is this World Federation of Friends of Museums?” Since then I have learned that it is too much of a well-kept secret to most people.

So, what is the World Federation of Friends of Museums?

The purpose of the WFFM (formed in Brussels June 15, 1975) as defined in its By Laws is: “… to foster international cooperation between Associations of Friends of Museums in order to promote mutual understanding, to exchange information and to pool the experience acquired with the purpose of intensifying the life and developing the function of such associations to benefit the museums and the public.”

Or, as defined on our web site (www.museumsfriends.com) “the aim of the WFFM is to promote and spread the idea of friends of museums worldwide. The enrichment of museums and the safeguard of our cultural heritage are central to all the activities carried out by the Federation.”

Lofty and worthy goals, undoubtedly.

The next step in my education was to understand that there are tens of thousands of museums worldwide of very differing size and content. Coming from a world-class encyclopaedic museum of Art, Ethnography, Archeology, etc. (The Israel Museum, Jerusalem) with a collection of some 500,000 artifacts, I began to realize that there are museums of every possible subject (truly — every possible content) and size ranging from major museums to one room installations in very remote places.

Seven years later, I have grown to better know the museum world in its wonderful richness and diversity, to respect the WFFM and its members and all the hundreds of thousands of men and women of every race, religion, age, etc. who volunteer their talent, time and passion in supporting their museums in every way possible.

So, what is the WFFM after all?

It is first and foremost composed of National Federations of Friends in 18 countries: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the USA.

It has 27 Associate Members (Associations of Friends of specific museums) in 21 countries in Chile, Columbia, The Czech Republic, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Lithuania, Luxemburg, New Zealand, Peru, the Philippines, Romania, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, USA and Uruguay, as well as individual members all over the world.

This is truly a World Federation!

The WFFM is governed by a General Assembly and Council which meet once a year and an

Executive Committee composed of the seven officers of the Federation.

The 2009 Council and General Assembly were held April 30 – May 3, 2009 in Glasgow, while the next Council and General Assembly will be held in Lisbon, May 20-23, 2010. For non-Council friends this is a wonderful opportunity to experience Lisbon with an emphasis on Museums with like-minded friends from all over the world (Editorial Note: you will find detailed information on the Lisbon meeting on the CFFM web site at www.cffmfcam.ca).

We also hold a World Congress every three years. The last Congress was held in Jerusalem in September 2009 and the next one will be held in Genoa in the Spring of 2011.

In Glasgow I was elected by secret ballot as President of the WFFM for a three-year term.

A bit on who I am:

I am Canadian born (from Winnipeg) and still regard myself as a Canadian Israeli or Israeli Canadian. I am an active professional serving as Vice President for Development and International Relations of the Israel Museum of Jerusalem.

The WFFM — Quo vadis?

We intend to make the WFFM much more visible and relevant to the cultural and museum world. We hope to better serve our members by improving internal communications, by establishing a “data bank” of knowledge and expertise to be made available to our membership in particular but also to all museum friends and volunteers worldwide.

We hope to increase the membership of the WFFM and to offer our members relevant benefits. We will act to increase co-operation with UNESCO and ICOM, the organization of museum professionals, who are our natural partners in supporting our museums. Thus there is already a very productive partnership with ICOM in the areas of Sustainable Tourism and International Museums Day.

To you, the individual friend, supporting your beloved museum, our message is one of admiration, support and friendship. Perhaps you can derive encouragement in the knowledge that you are not alone, but rather part of an ever growing group of friends (what a wonderful concept!) worldwide, making their mark in supporting and strengthening culture, art and education.

Honoring Dr. Sean Murphy, C.M., M.D.

At the September 25th CFFM Board Meeting, held in the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Dr. Sean Murphy was nominated our first Companion Trustee. Dr. Murphy played a notable role in his many years as Chair of CFFM, during which time we had an increase of both museum and individual members, plus the important publication of “Significant Treasures”. He kept in touch weekly with the National Director in Toronto, first Carol Sprachmann, latterly Suzie Stohn.

Of equal note he was also highly regarded by all in the World Federation of Friends of Museums, serving as Chair of the North American Region. A quote from Jocelyn Shaw’s words of appreciation prior to the nomination: “Sean brought to every meeting a seriousness of purpose, which was tempered by flashes of humour. Sean never hesitated to speak out for something he thought could be done better, or to press for concrete action when he felt matters were lagging.”

In latter years Dr. Murphy stressed his particular interest – drawing in museums. His dream has been accomplished, for his lovely book “Dare to Draw / La passion du dessin” attests to how deep this interest lay. We congratulate him for such an achievement!

Dr. Murphy is a graduate of Harvard and the McGill Medical School. Later he was Professor of Ophthalmology at McGill for more than 30 years, where he is currently Professor Emeritus. He established the Sean Murphy Fellowship IFOS/ICO for Ophthalmology for future research into

interocular tumours at McGill. He has headed numerous professional organizations including the Quebec Association of Ophtalmologists; is A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts; was President of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts from 1968-1978; and a director of numerous arts organizations including the Canada Council and the National Gallery of Canada. For these achievements, his philanthropy and dedicated service to so many areas of Canadian life, Dr. Murphy was made a member of the Order of Canada and is a Queen’s Jubilee Medal recipient. Little wonder we are proud to be able to appoint him as CFFM’s first Companion Trustee.

Jocelyn Shaw

CFFM Advisory Committee

CONFERENCES OF INTEREST

Membership has its privileges! As a member of CFFM you are invited to attend two upcoming

WFFM Meetings:

• North American Regional Meeting in Washington April 19 and 20.

• Council Meeting in Lisbon, May 20 – 23. You will find details on both meetings on our web site.

Canadian Museums Association

• May 10 – 15, 2010 in St. John’s, Nfld. and Labrador

This year’s theme will be “Evolving Boundaries: Linking People, Place and Meaning.” CFFM is again sponsoring the Carol Sprachman Lecture. This year’s speaker will be Jeffrey Simpson.

In preparation for an Arts and Culture Summit organized by Ottawa Centre MP Paul Dewar, your Editor held a “kitchen table” discussion on November 1st at which 18 persons participated. It was decided that our priority #1 is keeping alive the dream of one day having an accessible and relevant Portrait Gallery of Canada.

Read more on the web.

Tony Bowland has been nominated to serve as interim member of the Board to fill a vacancy until the next Annual General Meeting.

Recognition for Museum Volunteers

All Canadian museums, galleries and heritage sites rely on their volunteers — be it their Board members, donors, or the many individuals who give tours, raise funds, cut the grass and bring added value to the work of the museum. Volunteers everywhere help to provide a bridge to the community.

This year, the Canadian Museums Association (CMA) and the CFFM have put into place a new, joint award that recognizes outstanding volunteers and volunteer groups across the country. This award is available to all members of CMA and CFFM. You will find a description of the award and a printable nomination form on our web site at www.cffm-fcam.ca.

A jury of museum volunteers and professionals will select the award winner from among nominations received. Members of the jury are:

• Michel V. Cheff began his career at the National Gallery of Canada and worked at the Musée du Québec and at the Winnipeg Art Gallery before coming to the Canadian Museum of Civilization.
• Susan Rome, has been Program Coordinator for Schools and Youth at the Vancouver Art Gallery for the past 20 years. Susan works with docents and school volunteers and oversees an internship program for teens.
• Margot Magee Sackett, director of the Ross Memorial Museum in St. Andrews. Margot is a member of the CFFM Advisory Council.
• Doris M. Smith is the editor of au courant. She was President of the Friends of the National Gallery of Canada and the Founding President of the Canadian Friends of the Hermitage.
• Yvonne Zacios is the immediate Past President of the Association des bénévoles du Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal and now its Treasurer.

The deadline for nominations is November 15th. The recipient of the first Museum Volunteer Award will receive his or her award certificate at the next CMA national conference held in St. John’s in May, 2010.

If you agree that the work done by museum volunteers is important, do promote this special Award by encouraging your museum or gallery to nominate an outstanding volunteer or team of  volunteers.

ICOM CANADA

To: Peter Homulos

Subject: Re: ICOM & CFFM

I am pleased to welcome CFFM as institutional member of ICOM Canada. ICOM Canada is the national committee of ICOM. Although one of the benefits of ICOM is the ICOM card which gives access to museums in 139 countries ICOM does much more. It is the international organisation of museums and museum professionals which is committed to the conservation, continuation and communication to society of the world’s natural and cultural heritage, present and future, tangible and intangible. It carries out part of UNESCO’s programme for museums. To find out more about ICOM, I encourage you to go to the web site at http://icom.museum.

Sylvie Morel, President, ICOM Canada

http://www.cffm-fcam.ca

Throughout the summer, CFFM has been working and updating its website. The redesigned website is now up and running and can be visited at http://www.cffm-fcam.ca/. The site features more content, is regularly updated and gives members the opportunity for direct feedback. Not to mention, it is far more visually stimulating than its precursor! We expect it to be a lively and informative site where museum volunteers and supporters can find the information they need.

The new website is blog-friendly and much more interactive, as CFFM members and supporters are encouraged to leave comments and contribute to online discussions and debates on relevant topics. Also, part of the growing and changing information available on the site will consist of articles dealing with museum-related topics – such as fund- raising, relationships between volunteers and paid staff, management of meetings, board development, volunteer recruitment, training, et cetera – posted by our members and supporters. We invite you to contribute to the body of material available on the web by submitting an article or essay, or referring us to a book that you feel should be included. We are also prepared to include links to interesting sites and resources, as well as post individual articles. If you wish to contribute some material, please contact us at cffm@museums.ca write to the Editor at aucourant@museums.ca.

We would like to thank Nick Frenette from the Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN) for his invaluable help and expertise in website building. It was most appreciated!

Ariane Belisle

Development Officer for CFFM

WHAT MAKES ROMtravel SPECIAL?

The Travel Section, as marvellous example of museum outreach organized by volunteers, is composed of three sections: ROMwalk which ―walks the streets of Toronto‖ pointing out architectural detail and relating anecdotes that tell Toronto’s story; ROMbus which conducts a variety of day tours in or out of the city; and ROMtravel which offers international travel to exciting destinations.

For the purposes of this article, I will focus on ROMtravel. In 2009-2010, we offer the following destinations: Barcelona: Style Capital; Intriguing Indochina: Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam; Sicily: Journey Through the Ages; A Berlin Kaleidoscope, With Dresden and Leipzig; Arctic Expedition: Churchill, Manitoba; and Jordan/Israel: An Archaeological Adventure.

These varied and tempting destinations focusing on World Culture and/or Natural History reflect the dual mandate of the ROM.

Repeatedly, our travellers compliment us on the seamless nature of the arrangements, the camaraderie and the opportunity to learn.

What makes a ROM trip so special? The answer is simple and common to all successful endeavours, just plain hard work! A great deal of care is taken in choosing our destinations. We have a feasibility committee that contacts travel agents to keep up to date on the latest trends in the travel industry and then conducts independent research on the destination’s potential to attract ROM travellers. We look to see if there is a ROM connection? Once the destination is approved, equal care is taken in choosing the coordinator of the trip.

In planning the detailed itinerary and liaising with the chosen travel agency, the coordinator strives for a balanced and varied tour. We assure potential travellers that not all their time will be spent going from one museum to another and that they will have the opportunity to visit local markets, historical sites, hike or just explore on their own. Prior to departure, the coordinator sends out a variety of useful information relevant to that destination, including a reading/ movie list. Questions relating to health, climate, clothing requirements, currency, packing suggestions and so on are answered. Are there particular web sites that would be of interest? In addition to an orientation meeting, we try to arrange opportunities for the travellers to learn, meet and mingle before the trip. Following lectures, travellers to India dined in an Indian restaurant and those going to China shared a Chinese meal. The coordinator also writes a handbook for participants to bring on the trip which outlines the daily itinerary and provides additional background information.

During the trip, the coordinator will have arranged extra perks not available to the independent tourist. Greeted by museum curators, they will have the opportunity to ‘go behind the scenes’. Canadian government representatives are invited to meet our travellers and where possible, visits are arranged with local inhabitants. Unlike the typical commercial tour, we have the flexibility to cater to special interests. For example, if several of the travellers are teachers, the itinerary may include a visit to a local rural school. If someone is interested in classical Indian dance, the coordinator arranges a private performance to the delight of everyone.

What makes a ROM trip so special? Not only is it careful research and detailed planning but also constant vigilance to make certain that each of our participants is enjoying the best possible trip.

Ethel Kellen

Co-chair, ROMtravel

You will find ROMtravel on-line at www.rom.on.ca click on Quick Links, select ROMtravel.

Two Notable Events: News from Diane Dyer and Jean Griffiths of the Volunteer Committee of the Gardiner Museum (GVC)

What do you do when you are celebrating 25 years? Have a party! While the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art in Toronto marked this special anniversary in May, we volunteers had our party late one afternoon in June……

The second great excitement of the year lies with the coming to Toronto of the National Docent Symposium which is being held for the very first time outside the United States. The morning of October 16, our Gardiner volunteers will welcome delegates from across North America

(See www.docents.net and click on “National Docent Symposium Council” for more information on this organization. Jean Griffiths is Director of the Council for Eastern Canada – Manitoba to Newfoundland.)

For the complete article News from the Gardiner, please go to our web site at www.cffm-cfam.ca.

THANK YOU, AGO!

CFFM owes a tremendous vote of thanks to the Art Gallery of Ontario. For over 30 years your organization has sustained us by ensuring that we always had adequate office space free of charge, as well as the use of your computer and telephone systems. Help and advice were readily available, whether from the technical support staff or the Volunteer and Marketing Departments. This made it possible for CFFM to continue its mandate to represent museum volunteers and friend’s groups throughout Canada. We look forward to keeping up contact with you from our new office in Ottawa and again thank you so very much for all you have done for us over these many years.

Suzie Stohn, Past CFFM Executive Director

Virtual Museum of Asian Canadian Cultural Heritage: Dream to Reality

Excerpts from an article by Dr. Kay Li

The dream of a space to highlight the unique cultural heritage and contributions of Asian Canadians became a reality in June 2009 with the official launch of the Virtual Museum of Asian Canadian Cultural Heritage (VMACCH) at York University. Senator Vivienne Poy, the Patron of Asian Heritage Month Canadian Foundation for Asian Culture (Central Ontario) Inc. And Honorary Chair of the Board of Advisors, Virtual Museum of Asian Canadian Cultural Heritage (VMACCH), announced the VMACCH literally with a bang, beating on a Japanese Taiko Drum…..

Partnership between Volunteers and Museums

VMACCH is spearheaded by the Toronto voluntary organization Asian Heritage Month — Canadian Foundation for Asian Culture (Central Ontario) Inc., which provides opportunities for

Asian Canadians to share their heritage and to promote a better understanding of Asian heritage by focusing annually on the month of May, designated as Asian Heritage Month.

The virtual museum is a prime example of how volunteers can team up with museums not only to create new online teaching resources for teachers and students in schools, but also make museum exhibits accessible to the general public free of charge in Canada, and introduce Asia-Canadian cultural heritage to people all over the world. …..

The project is made possible by partnerships with museums: the Bata Shoe Museum and theGardiner Museum. …..

… and with the support of the Department of Canadian Heritage through the Canadian Culture Online Strategy. …

VMACCH not only allows for the preservation and online showcasing of one of Canada’s most  culturally diverse communities, but it also provides a meeting place for Asian-Canadians and other Canadians to come together and share in cultural experiences. By creating an easy to navigate, accessible meeting place, it opens the barriers often encountered in cultural exchanges.

… ―The experiences of Asian Canadians nationwide are an important part of Canada’s past, present and future. We want this museum to reflect and celebrate these contributions, said the organizing committee of the project.

Submissions and queries can be e-mailed to vmacchyorku.ca. Visit www.vmacch.ca or  www.asianheritagemonth.org for further details.

Read the complete article on our website at www.cffm-fcam.

Volunteers and Transformation AGO

Transformation presented a unique and unprecedented opportunity for the Art Gallery of Ontario to not only expand our building and collections, but also the ways in which we engage with each other; our staff, our volunteers, and our public.

Transformation AGO provided us with a rare and exceptional opportunity to reframe the work we do, hallmarked by new collections, new interpretive strategies, and a new orientation program for all staff and volunteers. We called it ―unleashing excellence – a branding of sorts, that encapsulates our creative, welcoming and respectful AGO.

Volunteers have always played a vital role at the Gallery, and through transformation we continued the tradition. Our volunteer recruitment office, staffed by a (volunteer!) team of ten, interviewed and placed over 450 volunteers in meaningful roles that both support our mission of bringing art and people together, enlivening many departments of the gallery, including: Education, Visitor Services, Prints and Drawings, the Grange, Membership and Art Rental (to name but a few). But we haven’t rested on our laurels. A successful model, where volunteers work side-by-side with staff, has created new areas for volunteerism. With acurrent volunteer compliment of over 700, our team, happily, continues to grow.

By Diana Goliss and Holly Procktor, Staff and Volunteer Resources

Be the First to see King Tut: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs

November 24, 2009 to April 18, 2010

Get to the front of the line for tickets! Visit ago.net/tut and pre-register before September 10, 2009, to win two VIP tickets to see King Tut: The Golden King and The Great Pharaohs exhibit! For full rules and regulations, go to ago.net/tut.

Thirty years after the wonders of Tutankhamun had their celebrated Canadian debut at the Art Gallery of Ontario, an even bigger exhibition – King Tut: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs – will make its sole Canadian appearance at the AGO.

With an almost entirely different selection of treasures and more than twice the number of artifacts as were displayed in the 1979 exhibition, King Tut: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs features more than 100 remarkable pieces from the tomb of King Tut and ancient sites representing some of the most important rulers throughout 2,000 years of ancient Egyptian history. Derived from royal and private tombs and temples from 2600 B.C to 660 B.C., most of these artifacts had never before been seen in North America prior to this exhibition, which is currently breaking venue attendance records in Indianapolis.

Don’t miss out on this must see event!

CONFERENCES OF INTEREST

Ontario Museums Association

Oct. 21 – 23, 2009 in Hamilton

CFFM is participating by organizing a session, on October 22, from 2:15 to 3:30 pm to be chaired by Joan Goldfarb, CFFM Co-President, on ―Fostering a Close Relationship between your Museum, your Volunteers and the Community. In this session we will discuss the evolving relationships among museums, their volunteers and their communities. Through a facilitated interactive session with the audience we will explore then needs of each part of this multi-faceted partnership.

Canadian Museums Association

May 10 – 15, 2010 in St. John’s, Nfld. and Labrador

This year’s theme will be ―Evolving Boundaries: Linking People, Place and Meaning. CFFM is again sponsoring the Carol Sprachman Lecture.

New! The Museum Volunteer Award

The Canadian Museums Association (CMA) and the Canadian Federation of Friends of Museums (CFFM) have paired up to launch a new award honouring outstanding volunteers. The Museum Volunteer Award recognizes exceptional individuals or groups who have dedicated their time and energy to a Canadian museum or heritage institution for at least four years.

Museum volunteers contribute to their communities by preserving its history and heritage for Canadians today and in the future. A testimony of their relentless enthusiasm and passion, these volunteers are involved in all aspects of museum life: from restoration to conservation, they have allowed museums to enhance their programming, collections and visitor experiences.

It’s not surprising that Canadian museums enjoy the help of many thousands of volunteers across the nation. Volunteers’ involvement in museums positively impacts not only the institution, but also its staff and visitors. In exchange, volunteers partake in the preservation of our heritage; learn new skills and experiences; and have fun and a strong sense of satisfaction when connecting to their local communities. CMA and CFFM have long valued, and been inspired by, the impact volunteers have on museums and their communities. As part of its Awards for Outstanding Achievement, in the volunteerism category, CMA has honoured Doris Smith for her 30 years of outstanding volunteering commitment to Canada’s museums and Joan McKim for her 25 years as a volunteer at the McCord Museum of Canadian History. Today, the Museum Volunteer Award stands in its own category to celebrate these outstanding contributions and commitments.

The nominee for this award is an individual or a group that has demonstrated an outstanding contribution to a public, non-profit museum or related heritage or cultural institution in a volunteer capacity. This contribution can be as a member of a volunteer committee, a board of trustees, as a special event coordinator or in another significant way.

Eligibility criteria, selection criteria and application instruction and process, as well as other details will be available shortly. The recipient of the first Museum Volunteer Award will receive his or her award certificate at the next CMA national conference held in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, on May 10-15, 2010.

Anyone with an individual or institutional membership at the CMA or CFFM can nominate a volunteer (or group of volunteers) for this award. The deadline for nominations is November 15, 2009.

More information and details will be made available by end of May 2009 on www.museums.ca.

Sanita Fejzic

Communications Manager, Canadian

Museums Association

“Not in his goals but in his transitions is man great” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

The past years have been marked by major transitions for the CFFM. The partnership agreement entered into with the Canadian Museums Association and our administrative move from Toronto to Ottawa were major organizational and physical undertakings that have been successfully launched.

Both Joan and I are pleased to contribute to this ongoing transition and repositioning process with our nomination and election, at the March AGM, Co-Chairs of the CFFM (in full) for the 2009-2010 term. To this role, we both bring extensive backgrounds in volunteer and board museum experience in Ontario and Quebec, over 45 years combined! It is our aim to use these shared reference points as a template on which to consolidate and rebuild the regional representative network that will give CFFM a strong nation-wide voice. This will allow it to fully fulfill its important advocacy role as a spokesperson for our stakeholders, the volunteers who contribute so much to the cultural sector all across Canada.

Our developing CMA alliance will provide ongoing opportunities to build and actively exercise this role. An excellent example of this positive symbiosis is the recent invitation extended by the CMA to CFFM to play a leadership role in the jury selection process of the Museum Volunteer Award and we are already enthusiastically at work on embracing this new role.

 On the international level, we are both convinced of the important value-added benefits of information sharing, dialoguing and connecting in this age of globalization with national volunteer organizations in Europe and farther afield. Our attendance at the recent World Congress of the World Federation of Friends of Museums in Jerusalem, Israel in September 2008 reaffirmed the value of participating and building on our role as a major North American voice in this process.

What will be our chief tool in this quest to meet the quintessential Canadian challenge of spanning our nation from coast to coast? Communication! There is more than a verbal tie between the words common, community and communication. By survey, website, mail and teleconference we will be in touch to involve you as we continue to reposition and build CFFM for the 21st century.

We look forward to connecting with our community over the months ahead!

Joan Goldfarb

Marie Tremblay McNiven

Co-Chairs

The RQABM (1989 – 2008)

The Quebec Association of Friends and Volunteers of Museums (RQABM) terminated its activities in May of 2008. During its relatively short existence, this Association has brought some significant contributions to the life of Quebec Museums; it has moreover also left its heritage on the international scale. Its decision to give up its labours may appear somewhat surprising, especially considering that in some 500 museum institutions in the Province of Quebec, voluntary work is flourishing; thousands of friends and volunteers contribute to these institutions’ functioning, promotion and growth.

Since its founding in 1989, the primary objective of the RQABM was to bring together the associations of friends and volunteers of Museums and to promote their members’ spheres of activities with a view to enhancing these institutions’ image and popular support.

Since its creation, the RQABM has carried out many training and informative activities, such as organizing seminars to define the role and responsibilities of Museum friends and volunteers, on the financing of these associations, etc., it has also published a periodic newsletter (RQABM info), as well as various texts and studies, it has participated in the work of the Administrative Council of the Canadian Federation of Friends of Museums and in the World Federation of Friends of Museums; it has welcomed, in Montreal, in May 2005, the Annual General Assembly of the World Federation of Friends of Museums.

The RQABM has also pursued the objective of representation at Museum and associative bodies such as La Société des musées québécois (Association of Quebec Museums), the Canadian Federation of Friends of Museums, the World Federation of Friends of Museums, the ICOM, as well as on other governmental bodies.

During the l990’s, the administrators of the RQABM began the task of writing the Code of Ethics for Friends and Volunteers of Museums. This work done at the request of the World Federation of Friends and Volunteers of Museums was adopted by the Federation at their 9th Congress, held in Oaxaca (Mexico), in October 1996. Under its official title of ‘Code d’éthique des amis et bénévoles de Musées’, it was published in a trilingual version, in French, English and Spanish; it is also available on the internet site of the Federation: www.amis-musees.fr/ or www.museumsfriends.com.

In the spring of 2007, the RQABM published the Guide de gestion des associations d’amis et de bénévoles de musées, Management guidelines for Friends and Volunteers of Museums.

The support of the Ministry of Culture and Communications of the Province of Quebec enabled the RQABM to offer this document free of charge to all the Associations of Friends and Volunteers as well as to all the Museums in the Province of Quebec. Together with the Code of Ethics, this Management Guidelines represents the fruit of our thoughts, and our deliberations based on experience and knowledge. It constitutes our main legacy to Quebec society and to the community of friends and volunteers of Museums wherever they might be.

Thus, the RQABM’s balance sheet is very positive and the members of its administrative Council believe that its existence is still valid and the objectives that define it are still pertinent and worth pursuing. Associative bodies of this kind bring so much to the quality of life of a society. It will be appreciated that the decision to disband the Regroupement was the culmination of a long and arduous process of soul and brain searching. This decision was submitted by the Administrative Council as an official proposal to the Special General Assembly on 22 May 2008 and it was accepted by its members.

This difficult decision was taken in light of several factors: the dwindling membership, the difficulty in recruiting new administrators, etc. The heavy burden assumed voluntarily by the President has led to the realization, after two years of futile efforts, that it became impossible to find a successor to this post, especially in view of the fact that it became increasingly difficult to recruit new administrators. We believe that these difficulties are due to several factors. It should be noted that in Quebec there is a preponderance of small museums, managed by minuscule administrative teams, perhaps assisted by a few volunteers. The new generation of volunteers seems to have different expectations, its efforts seem more sporadic than in the past and divided up among several fields of activities (museums, libraries, music, sports, …).

We believe that the mission of RQABM is still valid. Perhaps one day it could be reinstated on new bases? This is what we wish.

Danielle Lecours, President 2002-2008

Léo Paré, Treasurer, 2003-2008

Éva Zietkiewicz, Member of the Board of Directors, 1998-2008

Le Regroupement québécois des amis et bénévoles de musées.

21st March 2009.

Please note that a few copies of the 2007 RQABM publication: Guide de gestion des associations d’amis et de bénévoles de musées. 162 pages, in French,. are still available. Contact:

aucourant@museums.ca.

Schools Outreach Program

All of us know the warm feeling that goes with volunteer endeavours that are just right. Probably nowhere is that feeling more evident than it is in the Volunteers’ Circle of the National Gallery of Canada where two programs, “Looking at Pictures” and “Vive les arts !” are reaching out to schools in the area to give the students a rich background in art.

Situated deep in the inner offices of the Gallery and the Volunteers’ Circle hub, their headquarters is lined with more than 1,000 dry mounted or laminated reproductions stored in wooden bins. These reproductions cover art from pre-history through

Classical, Middle Ages, Renaissance, Impressionism, Modern and Surrealism. In fact examples of art from around the world. From there, 70 active volunteers in the two programs (one for English speaking schools, one for French) fan out to carry them in their big portfolios to more than 200 area schools – and 40,000 students annually.

The programs have proven to be a tremendous success right from their beginnings in 1966 – 68 when Jacqueline Southam spearheaded some experimental art programs in

Ottawa area high schools. The aim then, as it is now, was to give students a lively interest in art – to provide them with specific observation skills and to help them articulate their thoughts. The program trained its volunteers to carry out these important aims and eventually found its focus in the elementary schools. “Looking at Pictures” (for the English-speaking schools) received its name early on, “Vive les arts !” (for the French) came into being in 1986.

This is the way the programs work:               

1. Training:

a) Many volunteers are former teachers or art history graduates, but they all are interested in talking to children. They attend monthly enrichment seminars – talks about or by artists and tours of galleries. These meetings allow them to share ideas on how to present the paintings and artists to students.

b) Each volunteer has a handbook as a guide line and is expected to know the Ministry of Education’s art curriculum for elementary schools. A mentor will go along with a new volunteer to make him/her more comfortable in the class-room situation.

c) Every summer the volunteers spend several days choosing a suitable portfolio (6 – 10 pictures) – often based on a theme. They then conduct their own research through the use of the Volunteers’ Circle library, the Gallery’s resources, their own private collections – and of course, the internet. This year, both groups have implemented a new PC data-based software system to catalogue their complete inventories. This base stores images of the reproductions as well as data on the art work, artist, theme and other pertinent information. The presenters can select their material and check out their choices. At the end of the school year the pictures are checked back in – much like a library system. This has proved to be a great boon to efficiency.

2. School Participation:

a) Request forms are e-mailed individually to the schools or by the Boards of Education in Ontario and Quebec who endorse the program.

b) When the requests are returned to the Volunteers’ Circle, the convenors of “Looking at Pictures” and “Vive les arts !” assign schools and volunteers. Every class from Grade 1 to Grade 6 has a presentation.

c) The volunteers make their own arrangements with the school and look after their own transportation.

d) Each school is asked to fill out an evaluation sheet, assessing the program. Evaluations are often discussed at monthly meetings.

e) Each volunteer is expected to visit a minimum of two schools a year, many do four or five.

3. Finances:

The two groups receive a small amount of money each year from the Volunteers’ Circle budget. They have been fortunate to receive generous grants from Bell, Imperial Oil, and a gift of money from an art gallery that was closing. A garden party (a good opportunity for everyone to see each other) was another fund raiser. These funds allowed Looking at Pictures and Vive les arts ! to rent buses to bring certain classes from the schools to come to the Gallery to see the real paintings and sculpture and to enjoy the beautiful Gallery building.

4. Relations with the National Gallery:

The Education Department of the Gallery very much appreciates its volunteers. The days that school boards had budgets for buses to transport a legion of students to the

Gallery are shrinking and the responses of the schools – and parents – is a ready indicator of the need for such free programs. There is no way of tabulating how many

children (bringing their parents) come to the Gallery as a result of the school visits but the Volunteers’ Circle know that they do from the enthusiasm they generate in the classroom. If ever the goals of these two programs should be in doubt, the drawings and letters tacked on the office bulletin-board from schools all over the area clearly show how important they are. One twelve-year old wrote:

“I am so pleased you came to our school. I really enjoyed it. I have always loved art but I learned many more things at your presentation like how Monet painted in the fog. It’s hard to say which painting is my favourite because I liked each one for a different reason. I think it will have to be between Mary Pratt, Vincentvan Gogh or Canaletto. I like how in the Mary Pratt it looks very realistic with the different shades, how in Canaletto’s it is cheerful and has lots of detail, and how in Van Gogh’s he put a lot of thick paint so it looks 3D. I just don’t like the flag in his painting. I think it distracts people.”

Now there is an art lover – and critic – in the making.

For more information on these two programs, contact the Volunteers’ Circle of the National Gallery of Canada:

P.O Box 333, Station A,

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1N 8V3.

e-mail: volunteers’circle@gallery.ca

by Jean Seasons

Secretary, Volunteers’ Circle of the

National Gallery of Canada

BOOKS OF INTEREST TO OUR READERS

Dr. Sean Murphy, member of the CFFM Advisory Council, has published a book, Dare to Draw. The author recounts with a contagious passion his personal adventures as a self-confessed amateur. A book for anyone who has ever had the urge to draw.

Publisher: McClure Gallery/Visual Arts Centre, 350 Victoria Ave., Westmount,Que., and also available at the National Gallery of Canada and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.

120 pages, price $24.95.

CONFERENCES OF INTEREST

Ontario Museums Association

Oct. 21 – 23, 2009 in Hamilton

CFFM is participating by organizing a round table on “Fostering a Close Relationship between your Museum, your Volunteers and the Community.”

Canadian Museums Association

May 10 – 15, 2010 in St. John’s, Nfld. and Labrador

This year’s theme will be “Evolving Boundaries: Linking People, Place and Meaning.”

If you have some news that you would like to share with our readers, do get in touch with the editor at aucourant@museums.ca. Perhaps on how you celebrated International Museum Day on May 18th or what special recognition was shown to volunteers during Volunteer Week April 19 – 25? Deadline for submission of copy for the Autumn 2009 issue is August 15.

THE ROLE OF CANADIAN MUSEUMS AT A TIME OF ECONOMIC CRISIS

With experts in Canada and around the world projecting tough economic times for the foreseeable future, it is pertinent to ask questions about the role of our museums and other heritage organizations. How can we — both those responsible for managing the institutions and their many workers and volunteers — ensure that the institutions not only survive a severe economic downturn but emerge as strong, healthy organizations prepared to continue to serve Canadians.

And there is an important supplementary question. To what degree can these institutions support the government’s objectives of maintaining employment and reinvigorating the economy.

One set of answers is to be found in the recent CMA submission to the 2009 budget consultations; it contains a recipe for a renewed federal program to be carried out in partnership with museums across the country aimed at creating jobs, ensuring that collections are preserved and made accessible, and strengthening the Young Canada Works program. The recommendations are tailored to form part of the government’s economic stimulus program in a manner that is strategic and targeted, balancing shorter-term economic recovery goals with those longer-term goals that speak to improved Canadian productivity, innovation and competitiveness.

The submission forcefully reminds federal politicians about the role of museums in our society:
Whether they are national or community-based, serving Canadians in urban or rural areas, Canada’s museums are fundamental to our society. Canada’s 2500 museums attract over 59 million visitors each year; 7.5 million of whom are students. Museums enjoy an incredible reach: they are popular and accessible among Canadians as well as international visitors to Canada. Museums help build stronger communities, locally and nationally. More than repositories to preserve past achievements, Canada’s museums are forums for engagement, interaction and pride.

Key components of the recommended programs are: – A Heritage Sector Employment Program – A Collections Access Program – Enhanced support for the Young Canada Works Program

These recommendations are based on the reality that museums in 2007 generated real value-added output of $46 billion. Taking into account direct, indirect and induced contributions, the sector had an “economic footprint” of $84.6 billion, some 7.4% of Canada’s GDP — while contributing 1.1 million jobs.

It is up to all of us in the sector to ensure that our parliamentarians and the decision makers at other levels of government are fully aware of these realities.

Bill Peters

WHAT IS CANADA’S MUSEUM FOR HUMAN RIGHTS?

It is unlike any museum I have been associated with in my 31 years in museums. It is an ideas museum, a museum of conscience and a museum dedicated to the important social issue of human rights in Canada and globally.

The museum is very purposely called the Canadian Museum for Human Rights as a positioning statement to imply that each and every person who comes through the Museum will be moved to do something positive for the human rights locally or internationally. Exhibits will deal with human rights issues from the past such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that celebrated its 60th anniversary on December 10th, 2008 authored by a Canadian. It will also deal with current present day issues as they emerge, and will speculate on issues that may emerge in the future as advances in medicine and technology create human rights dilemmas.

The exhibitions are being developed by Ralph Appelbaum Associates who have put together a conceptual outline of the exhibitions which was presented by Ralph Appelbaum and his staff at our first meeting on September 3, 2008. The concept is to engage visitors with the topics in extremely creative ways using some ‘high tech’ methodology and some tried and true methods that have been used in museums for generations. Ralph Appelbaum’s firm has proposed an electronic method called a ‘key’ that allows visitors to take home electronically parts of the story in the exhibits that touched the visitor deeply or information they want to think more about.

The building has been carefully thought out. A presentation from the architect, Antoine Predock, demonstrates that he has used a great deal of symbolism in the design: for instance the glass façade represents the wings of a dove with the attendant symbolism. The berms emerging from where the building meets the ground represent roots and which to me at least suggests that human rights are a natural extension of being human.

There is a great deal of work to do between now and the opening of the Museum in 2012. The Board and staff are charged with creating an iconic building that functions well as a museum, hire a CEO, hire 170- 180 staff, continue the fund-raising, reach out to Canadians in all parts of Canada as we build the museum with an effective outreach program, consult with Canadians on the creation of the topics for the exhibits, and build and install the exhibits. It is a daunting task for the board and the staff but one that they are excited about and committed to doing the best job possible.

The board is made up of interesting and talented people from diverse backgrounds. The staff now numbers 11 people, the interim Chief Operating Officer who leads the staff has been seconded from the federal government. The construction of the building is being overseen by the former Director of the Canadian War Museum, Joe Geurts.

Facts

• First new National Museum in 40 years
• First National Museum outside the National Capital Region
• The only museum in the world focussed totally on the broad spectrum of human rights
• Building – 270,000 square feet
• Current staffing level of 11 will increase by 2012 to 170-180
• Chief Executive Officer/Director to be hired early in 2009
• Board currently 8 Trustees but full complement is 11
• Website is www.humanrightsmuseum.ca
• Collecting will be limited – this is an ideas museum not a collecting institution

Bill Barkley

 
NOTE: Prime Minister Stephen Harper assisted at the Museum’s ground-breaking ceremony on December 19, 2008.

CAROL SPRACHMAN MEMORIAL LECTURE: “FULLY WIRED… FULLY MOBILE: GENERATION Y”

During a plenary session on Saturday morning March 28th Jennifer Corriero will address delegates to the CMA National Conference on the topic “Fully Wired…Fully Mobile: Generation Y”. Expert on Youth Culture and Demographics, Jennifer Corriero is a dynamic young individual who has developed and implemented many programs and initiatives around the world that engage students in learning experiences which utilize technology in meaningful ways. She has been a consultant for numerous clients including the Ontario Science Centre, VanCity Credit Union, HP and Microsoft.

In 1999, Jennifer co-founded TakingITGlobal, a non-profit organization that utilizes technology to foster cross-cultural understanding, collaboration and awareness of global issues among youth around the world. The website currently receives over 1 million hits each day and has grown to include over 30,000 members from over 200 countries and territories. Jennifer has been recognized by the World Economic Forum as one of the Global Leaders for Tomorrow in 2002 and has been featured in TIME Magazine as one of the leaders for Canada’s Next Generation.

Ms. Corriero will provide insight on how cultural institutions can engage and connect with a younger and more “wired” demographic as visitors, employees and stakeholders.

Ms. Corriero’s lecture is being sponsored by CFFM as a memorial to Carol Sprachman, guiding spirit of our organization for many years.

For those wanting to attend, please check with the CMA Registration Desk at the Fairmont Hotel prior to the 9:00 am lecture.

CFFM ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

March 26, 2009 in Toronto

4:30 pm The Fairmont Royal York

The following slate, with suggested portfolios, is recommended by the Nominating Committee to serve on the Board of Directors of CFFM for the coming year, 2009- 2010:

Cynthia J. Armour (Development) is a certified fundraising executive and has done work for the Museums Association of Saskatchewan, the Ontario Museum Association, the Trans Canada Trail Foundation and the Museum of Childhood among others.

William Barkley is an independent consultant focusing on the planning, management and teaching for museums and related institutions.

Barbara Bloor (Treasurer) is a chartered accountant in Ontario and works as a consultant. Her areas of expertise include program, financial and organizational reviews.

Joan Goldfarb (co-President) received her B.A. for fine arts at the University of Toronto. She serves on the Advisory Board for the Art Gallery of York University.

Marion Haunton – 26 years with Legal Services of the Department of Justice, in the departments of Fisheries and oceans, Canadian Heritage, Communications, and Indian and Northern Affairs.

Peter Homulos (National Director) is retired from the department of Canadian Heritage. Before that he was the Director General of the Canadian Heritage Information Network. He is now an independent consultant with a strong interest in mediation and resolution of Aboriginal issues in Canada.

Marie Tremblay-McNiven (co-President) is a member of the Board Advisory Committee for the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. She is involved with management consulting with the Fondation Héritage Montréal.

Wally Kozar (Secretary) has held management positions with the National Museum of Man, the Museums Assistance Program and the Canadian Conservation Institute.

Doris M. Smith (Public Relations and Communications) is a long-time museum volunteer at the National Gallery of Canada and founded the Canadian Friends of the Hermitage. She is a retired certified fund-raising executive.

Martha Wilder (Development) is currently employed as the Program Expansion Manager for Windfall. Through her interest in Canadian heritage, she has worked for the Newfoundland Heritage Trust, developed heritage products such as the Trailblazer board game and volunteered at the Royal Ontario Museum.

WORLD FEDERATION OF FRIENDS OF MUSEUMS

Au courant has received an account from Carla Bossi- Comelli, President of the WFFM, of the organization’s activities during the past year. Some extracts from her report:

“For the first time in our history a WFFM Congress (Ed. the XIII International Congress in September) was hosted by a museum, the Israel Museum of Jerusalem. The International Council of the Israel Museum organized the event with a special appointed team chaired by its Vice-President for International Relationships Daniel Ben-Natan.

The objective was to bring together friends, volunteers and museum professionals for a stimulating and practical debate on the subject chosen for the Congress: “The Relationships between Museums, Friends and Volunteers”. The programme resulted in a success both in terms of the themes proposed for discussion as well as of the large attendance from 28 different countries.

This past year the WFFM Council Meeting and General Assembly was held in Paris from the 24th to the 27th of April. The next WFFM Council and General Assembly Meeting will be held in Glasgow April 30th to May 3rd. It will be hosted by the British Association of Friends of Museums and organized by the Friends of Glasgow Museums.

NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES TO MEMBERSHIP FEE STRUCTURE

The Board of Directors of CFFM has proposed the following changes to the schedule of membership fees for individual supporters and organizations. In accordance with by-laws, these changes will be presented to membership for approval at the Annual General Meeting on Thursday, March 26, 2009.

CURRENT

Supporters

Organizations

• Under 100 members   –   $25+
• 100 – 1,000 members   –   $50+
• 1,000 – 5,000 members   –   $100+
• Over 5,000 members   –   $1,500+

PROPOSED FEE STRUCTURE

Supporters

• Student   –   $25+
• Friend   –   $40+
• Supporter   –   $100+
• Associate   –   $250+
• Patrons   –   $500+
• Benefactor   –   $1,000+

Organizations

•  Under100 members   –   $50+
• 100 – 500 members   –   $75+
• 500 – 1,000 members   –   $100+
• 1,000 – 5,000 members   –   $150+
• Over 5,000 members   –   $200+

A Membership Benefit available to you this year: send us your brochures and handouts for display at the CMA Conference. For information contact dmsmith@ncf.ca.

CALLING ALL DOCENTS!

The National Docent Symposium to be held in Toronto from October 14 – 17 is slowly but surely coming together. The Registration Brochure will be mailed on April 2nd. Any institution interested in receiving the Registration Brochure should e-mail annwilcox@rogers.com with the institution’s mailing address and the name of the contact person.

On-line registration will begin on April 15th. Symposium information may be found at www.ago.net/nds2009 and anyone interested in receiving updates should sign up at that site.

If you have some news that you would like to share with our readers, do get in touch with the editor at aucourant@museums.ca. Letters may be edited to fit the space available. Deadline for submission of copy for the Summer 2009 issue is April 30th.

A LETTER TO THE HON. JAMES MOORE

Our Vice Presidents, Jean Read and Martha Wilder have written to the Hon. Moore to congratulate him on his appointment as Minister of Canadian Heritage. They state that “Our members look forward to working with you and your Ministry in ensuring that all Canadians are aware of our cultural heritage and its importance to our nation.” They express the hope that the Minister “will want to reach out to those who work in our museums and other heritage institutions.”

They explain that “Canadians have a special relation-ship with our museums. Fifty-nine million visits are made to Canadian museums every year. Museums exist in every Canadian community and contribute significantly to the identity and economic activity of that region. Museums are the guardians and presenters of the Canadian story, showcasing our values of freedom, democracy and human rights. They serve as a window on the world for Canadians while showcasing Canadian talent, achievements and history to millions of foreign visitors each year.

They point out that, “In many respects, museums share common objectives with the Government of Canada and there is a long history of collaboration and support that has enabled our heritage institutions to develop programming and capabilities that are the envy of many other nations. That being said the reality today is that our museums are struggling and need a supportive policy environment that will enable this capacity to be resuscitated.”

CANCELLATIONS

On November 7, 2008 the Department of Canadian Heritage announced that the selection process for a permanent home for the Portrait Gallery of Canada was terminated. Four proposals had been received (two in Edmonton, one in Calgary and one in Ottawa). “Unfortunately, none of these proposals met the Government’s requirements” said Minister Moore. “In this time of global economic instability, it is important that the federal government continue to manage its own affairs prudently and pragmatically. The selection process failed to meet the best interests of both the Portrait Gallery and taxpayers. We have therefore decided not to pursue this project at this time.”

Minister Moore is unapologetic about the nearly $45 million in cuts to heritage, arts and cultural sectors – see article on this subject by Peter Homulos in the Autumn 2008 issue of au courant.

WORLD FEDERATION OF FRIENDS OF MUSEUMS CONGRESS IN JERUSALEM

Hosted by the International Council of the Israel Museum in September 2008.

Marie Tremblay McNiven and Joan Goldfarb represented CFFM at the Congress of the World Federation of Friends of Museums. They were pleased to see that there was a significant group of Canadians in attendance and they held a number of informal meetings to discuss CFFM. Many of the Canadians felt that a coordinated front for the promotion of Canadian museums was very important and that CFFM could play such a role.

The theme of the Congress – “The Relationship between Museums, Friends and Volunteers” provided the opportunity to explore challenges that are faced by museums and their supporters now and in the future.

The main objective of WFFM is to promote the idea of Friends of Museums. “Friends” is understood in many different ways by the various delegations. It includes volunteers and members as well as potential donors. The role of Friends ranges from institutional supporter in both time and donations to bridge-building and cultural education roles within the community. The wide range of interpretations reflects both the state of evolution in various countries between their cultural institutions and their communities, and the relative maturity of the Friends movements within them.

WFFM represents 34 countries and about two million Friends world-wide. WFFM has important links to ICOM (International Council of Museums) and through ICOM to UNESCO. At present, the WFFM is working with ICOM to create a charter of principles on sustainable tourism.

WFFM has created a Code of Ethics for people who provide unpaid work to museums in any capacity. This document is available in several languages and is used extensively around the world.

Of particular relevance to CFFM were sessions on “Fruitful Collaborations between Museums and Friends”, chaired by the British FFM President Norah Dunbar. These sessions featured a most interesting presentation by Valerie Cooper, CEO of the Art Gallery of Calgary and Donale Gandossi, Chair of the AGC Board of Directors.

Canada was also represented in a panel focused on “The Challenge of Recruiting and Maintaining Membership” via an excellent presentation by Mark Trask, Chief, Membership and Annual Giving, National Gallery of Canada Foundation.

Some of the ideas explored during the sessions:

• There should be no lines between professionals, friends and volunteers;
• How to use survey results to ensure that governments understand the full significance of volunteers and to discover what volunteers want to enrich their experiences;
• Ways to reward members and volunteers;
• Ideas for creating new kinds of volunteers to capture young audiences. The creation of hosts rather than docents;
• The implication of free entry to museums to the public and the institution;
• The numbers of members and volunteers are a barometer of the health of the institution;
• Web friends and web members are not the real supporters, so care should be taken not to diminish the experience of live participants.

Of course, there were many more sessions and ideas that were discussed and explored. In addition, delegates had the pleasure of visiting heritage sites that were available to all participants of the Congress. If you are interested in learning more about the Congress, please e-mail us at cffm@museums.ca

Joan Goldfarb and Marie Tremblay McNiven

BOOK REVIEW

A new publication from the American Association of Museum Volunteers is a soft cover 100-page book, Transforming Museum Volunteering.

This is a practical guide, well laid out, with many examples, for museum staff and volunteer managers, which illustrates the need for new approaches to engage volunteers in the 21st century. Volunteerism has changed in recent years to encompass a much broader range of people with very varied interests, cultural background, levels of education and time available – this guide is an excellent tool with which to recruit, train and reward today’s volunteers.

Transforming Museum Volunteering, by Ellen Hirzy, for the AAMV, is published by AuthorHouse. Visit www.aamv.org to purchase. Price: $29.95 US.

Gillian Moine

The theme of the Fall 2008 issue of theQueen’s Quarterly is “Museums and Mystery”. It features an in-depth interview with Victor Rabinovitch, President of the Canadian Museum of Civilization, articles by Robert Fulford (“The Harsh Judgment of the Museum”) and Margaret MacMillan, Robert Bothwell and Randall Hansen on the Canadian War Museum – Bomber Command Controversy.

NEW MEMBERS

• The Association of Friends of the Billings Estate Museum
• The Canadian Museum of Nature

VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION

The Volunteers’ Circle of the National Gallery of Canada was honoured with the “Outstanding Philanthropic Group Award” by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Ottawa Chapter, during the AFP Philanthropy Awards Dinner on November 12th. The National Gallery nominated the Circle for this honour in recognition of its 50th anniversary.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

The mandate of the Canadian Federation of Friends of Museums is to represent volunteers in all provinces and regions across Canada. If you would like to participate as a Board Member or wish to nominate a friend, please contact CFFM at 613-567-0099, ext. 260 or e-mail a brief résumé to cffm@museums.ca by January 15th.

CFFM ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The CFFM Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday, March 26, 2009 at 4:30 pm in the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Toronto during the CMA National Conference.

CANADIAN MUSEUMS ASSOCIATION NATIONAL CONFERENCE – March 25-28, 2009

Some highlights:

• Tuesday, March 24 at 4:30 pm: social kick-off events include a Walking tour of corporate art collections and a Premiering gallery tour at the Royal Ontario Museum.
• Wednesday, March 25 offers full-day and half-day workshops, including board development and fund-raising.
• Thursday, March 26 – Chantal Hébert, Political Commentator and Columnist, will give the keynote address, What Road Will We Take? Our member, Joan Goldfarb, will be moderating a panel on Donors, $$$, Collections, while Ken Armstrong, O.M.C., chairman of one of our institutional members, the Canadian Museum of Nature, will moderate a panel on Effective Leadership: CEOs and Trustees.
• Friday, March 27 – educational sessions continue.
• Saturday, March 28 at the Plenary Session from 9:00 – 10:00 am Jennifer Corriero will give this year’s Carol Sprachman Lecture. Her topic is Fully Wired….Fully Mobile: Generation Y. Admission to this lecture is free to members of CFFM – a new membership benefit.

For easy online registration and full conference details, visit www.museums.ca. Note that members of CFFM are entitled to register at the CMA rate!

TRANSFORMATION AGO

The transformed Art Gallery of Ontario opened to the public on November 14, 2008. In preparation, Gallery Guides and volunteers were offered retraining and placement. The majority elected to continue in the new space. The Gallery expects to enroll between 600 to 650 active volunteers to deal with large numbers of visitors who will be attracted by Frank Gehry’s innovative architectural design.

WEB SITES OF INTEREST

www.preservation.gc.ca is the site for you if you are interested in preserving your family treasures, heirlooms and works of art. The Preserving my Heritage web site of the Canadian Conservation Institute provides:

• advice on how to care for books, silver, paintings, videotapes, and more
• information about careers in conservation
• a great training tool for museum staff and volunteers

If you have some news that you would like to share with our readers, do get in touch with the editor at aucourant@museums.ca. Letters may be edited to fit the space available. Deadline for submission of copy for the Spring 2009 issue is February 2nd.

FOREVER YOUNG: VOLUNTEER EXTRAORDINAIRE – JOAN MCKIM, C.M.

The 2008 CMA Award for Volunteerism was given to a very special volunteer who has spent 25+ years cataloguing for the McCord Museum of Canadian History in Montreal. One of her most important achievements has been cataloguing the illustrations in the Canadian Illustrated News (published from 1869 to 1883).

Mrs. McKim received the Order of Canada in 2000 for giving more than seventy years to serving her community, revitalizing the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Symphony Orchestra and Welfare Federation. At age 95 she was still continuing her work of cataloguing for the McCord.

CORRECTIONS

Bill Barkley was misidentified in the last issue of au courant: Bill is a member of the Board of CFFM.

Federal Heritage Programs Under Siege

Peter Homulos

The federal Government has announced deep cuts in the heritage, arts and cultural sectors that total more than $40 million. These cuts are in addition to reductions to the Museums Assistance Program going back to 2006 and the more recent elimination of the Exhibit Transportation Services.

These decisions are particularly distressing, as the government had pledged to develop and implement a new Museums Policy for Canada that would have added significant new funding to support this vital sector of our national life. The upcoming federal election is the ideal time for all CFFM members to remind politicians of all parties of their past pledges and to make support for culture an important part of the election dialogue.

The cuts affect us all, for example, elimination of the Canadian Arts and Heritage Sustainability Program (CAHSP) will mean a loss of $3 million annually that was intended to be invested in building capacity in Canadian museums, galleries and related institutions. The visibility of Canada internationally will also be seriously impacted with cuts to programs like PromArt (http://www.international.gc.ca/culture/arts/perf-en.asp) and Trade Routes (http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/ac-ca/progs/rc-tr/progs/pcrc-trcp/index_e.cfm) both designed to build Canadian cultural linkages abroad by enabling Canadian creators to participate more effectively in events outside Canada, and to build foreign markets for their products and services.

The Canadian Museums Association (CMA) has reviewed the cuts carefully and has developed a list of key messages that we encourage CFFM members to think about and share with their local M.P.s, the Ministers of Canadian Heritage and Foreign Affairs as well as the Prime Minister. The messages are:

• Our local museum is incredibly popular within our community and to tourists (provide evidence, ie. total visits per year, number of tourists, etc.) Note: This can be adapted to reflect the core strengths of the local museum.
• Our museum attracts businesses to invest in this community (give examples) and enhances our quality of life. It is a “must see” attraction for tourists and serves as a centre of meaning, learning and exchange for the local community (xx number of tourists, xx school tours, etc.) Note: This can be adapted to reflect the core strengths of the local museum.
• Specific recommendation to the MP: Canada needs a clear policy and federal support for the cultural and arts sector. Ad hoc programs and arbitrary program cuts are not a good basis for a sustainable future. Remind them of the promises by all parties including the Conservatives for a new Museums Policy and more funding – not less.
• Museums are an important part of branding a community and setting it apart from others. This helps in marketing the community at home and internationally in a globalized market.
• A comprehensive cultural policy is something that most countries recognize as important: it creates a broader understanding of what Canada stands for and its economic potential. We have only to look as far as the U.S. to see how powerful culture can be in building international profile and creating awareness.

We strongly suggest that CFFM members share their concerns about what is happening to cultural funding in general and specifically heritage funding. Addresses for M.P.s can be found at: http://webinfo.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/MainMPsCompleteList.aspx?TimePeriod=Current&Language=E

The addresses of Ministers and the Prime Minister can be found at:
http://webinfo.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/MainCabinetCompleteList.aspx?TimePeriod=Current&Language=E

THE GARDINER MUSEUM OF CERAMIC ART

Bernice Klasky

The Museum opened in Toronto in 1984, a gift to the public from George and Helen Gardiner. Since then many pieces have been added to the initial ceramics from the Gardiners’ extensive personal collection. Pieces range from around 2500 BCE to the 21st century. Ceramics from the Ancient Americas, Italian majolica, English delftware, Chinese blue and white, Japanese kakiemon, Meissen, du Paquier, English and French porcelain, and 20th and 21st century objets d’art fill the Museum with colour, beauty and brilliance.

Highlights include a stunning collection of commedia dell’arte figures, an exceptional Meissen tea and chocolate service in its original travelling case, the amusing “Monkey Orchestra” and an exquisite collection of French scent bottles. The Gardiner is renowned, not only for its ceramics, but for its education and outreach programs and its research facilities.

Since the Gardiner opened, its volunteers have been an integral and important part of its activities. The ninety active volunteers and forty sustaining contribute about 15,000 hours each year.

The volunteers fill many roles. They staff the front desk and the shop. Docents offer free tours three times a week and are available for booked tours. The Archives/Library Committee keep the history of the Museum alive and accessible to the staff, volunteers and the public. Archives volunteers keep the records of the Museum in a variety of media, and Library volunteers search out appropriate publications for inclusion in the library, assist researchers and docents, and open the library to the public. Members of the Meet and Greet Committee answer general questions. The Admissions and Placement Committee screen, interview and place potential volunteers. After a three-month training period, successful candidates are invited to join the Volunteer Committee. The Membership Services Committee maintains the lines of communication through e-mail, regular mail and the twice-yearly Harlequin News.

The Fundraising Committee holds a “Joy of Ceramics” Luncheon every spring. The Volunteers have just completed a significant pledge to the recent building fund, ‘All Fired Up!” and have assisted in the publication of a number of books. Their “Pot of Gold” project enabled children, who otherwise could not afford clay classes, to attend.

The Gardiner Volunteer Committee instituted the Helen Gardiner Scholarship to be awarded annually to an elementary or secondary school student who shows a love and talent for working in clay.

All those who have been associated with the Gardiner were profoundly saddened at the death of Helen Gardiner in July. She was the heart and soul of the Museum. An extraordinary woman, who after her husband George’s death in 1994 took on a leadership role that vitalized fund-raising for the expansion of the building and the collections. She was a recipient of the Order of Canada for her significant contribution to the cultural life of the country. Helen Gardiner’s warm and sparkling personality, her dedication and unstinting generosity contributed enormously to the success of the Gardiner. She will be missed.

The Gardiner is a very special place for those of us who work and volunteer there. It is a veritable jewel of a museum filled with fascinating and beautiful ceramics that vividly tell the story of cultures and life for over three millennia through that most malleable, tactile and living of elements, clay.
For more information about the Museum, see www.gardinermuseum.com

In memoriam Val Cronyn

Vallière (Val) Cronyn died last April 13th. From the very start of CFFM forty years ago Val was an active and caring supporter, always involved in all aspects of CFFM’s activities. She held many executive positions including President and Treasurer. She will be fondly remembered and missed by all who knew her.

IN THE COMPANY OF FRIENDS

Jo Breyfogle

The publication “In the Company of Friends” celebrating fifty years of volunteering at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa is indeed a celebration of a proud history of volunteering.

It is a delightful title, and the cover gives one a feeling of happy anticipation before even opening the book. The content, which is well displayed and includes many wonderful photographs, is a testament as to why volunteers have become so necessary to many museums and art galleries throughout the country. With amazing dedication, hard work and obvious enjoyment, the story unfolds demonstrating that the volunteers over the fifty years have provided the National Gallery of Canada with amazing physical and financial aid as well as being ambassadors for the Gallery wherever they went.

The book outlines the history of the group and the many areas where they have so successfully made a difference. The story of the Rideau Chapel restoration is inspiring and shows, not only what can be achieved despite a tendency towards governmental disregard of the importance of heritage, but also how important the role of a well organized volunteer group can be.

In addition to retelling the history of the group the book includes some tips, based on experience, which would be of use to other groups on how to organize certain functions, such as a day trip or a study group.

Altogether a highly commendable publication in celebration of a significant milestone which augurs well for the future. One can only say, carry on the good work to sustain the institution, and, more than anything, continue to enjoy. As all dedicated volunteers know, volunteering is a two way street, one gets back as much, and often more, as one gives.

The National Gallery of Canada is lucky to have had, and to continue to have, the support of such an accomplished, dedicated group.

In the Company of Friends is available at $20 per copy (plus $5 for shipping and handling) from Volunteers’ Circle of the National Gallery

Box 333, Station A
Ottawa, ON K1N 8V3

Payment by cheque, MasterCard or VISA

May also be ordered by e-mail from volunteers.circle@gallery.ca or directly from the National Gallery’s web site: www.shopngc.ca.

BILL BARKLEY on Board of Canadian Museum for Human Rights

Bill, a member of the CFFM Advisory Council, has been selected by the Federal Heritage Minister to sit on the board of this new museum.

LOUISE RICKENBACKER retires

Louise joined the Board of CFFM in 1998 and became a member of the Advisory Council in 2004. Louise edited Communiqué from 1995 to 1998 and acted as CFFM representative in Ottawa and at several national and international meetings. Louise has now officially retired. However, we do look forward to Louise continuing as an active member of CFFM.

WE WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

• Cynthia Armour
• Barbara Bloor
• Margaret Luxton
• Rima Zubas
• The Campbell House Museum

WEB SITES OF INTEREST

www.virtualmuseum.ca is worth exploring. The site is produced by the Canadian Information Heritage Network (CHIN). Material may be used for educational and personal purposes. Certain expectations re copyright apply.

www.musumsofcanada.ca offers an good selection of gifts from Canadian museum shops.

You will always find interesting and pertinent reports by Hill Strategies Research Inc. on www.hillstrategies.com – Social Effects of Culture: Detailed Statistical Models, the 23rd report in the Statistical Insights on the Arts series provides strong evidence of the social effects of culture through detailed statistical models of six social indicators, such as volunteering, donating, sense of belonging, etc. Among the cultural activities, vists to public art galleries or historic sites each have a positive impact on five of the six social behaviours under the microscope.

CONFERENCES

Ontario Museums Association

Nov. 5 – 7, 2008 in Ottawa, ON
On the theme of Turning great ideas into result
www.museumsontario.com

Canadian Museums Association

62nd National Conference
March 25 – 28, 2009 in Toronto, ON
www.museums.ca

WFFM Council Meeting & General Assembly

April 30 – May 3, 2009 in Glasgow, U.K.
www.museumsfriends.com

National Docent Symposium

October 14 – 17, 2009 in Toronto
On the theme of Crossing Borders: Bridging Cultures
If your organization has some exciting program, new
solutions to an old problem or an innovative idea that
you want to share with other docents, contact www.ago.net/NDS2009/call/

A NEW BEGINNING

This year’s annual conference of the Canadian Museums Association (CMA) was held in Ottawa in March, and celebrated the organization’s 60th anniversary. The keynote address by broadcaster and journalist Rex Murphy, Whither Culture? Museums are the Portrait of Canada, provided an entertaining outlook at the future of Museums and set the tone for the following two days’ workshops and educational sessions.

Seven members of our Board – Jo Breyfogle, Arti Chandaria, Danielle Lecours, Margot Magee Sackett, Bill Peters, Jean Read and Martha Wilder, together with Advisory Council members Louise Rickenbacker and Jocie Shaw, and CFFM Assistant Rima Zubas, attended the conference. This representation, together with the CFFM-sponsored Carol Sprachman Memorial Lecture, our Panel on Volunteerism, and the inclusion of our logo in the acknowledgement of sponsors, generated much interest in our organization.

The Carol Sprachman Lecture titled Healthy, Wealthy and Wise, presented by Ron Chew, Director of the Wing Luke Asian Museum, Seattle, WA, was well received, as was the Panel organized and moderated by CFFM Vice-President Martha Wilder. Panelists Margot Magee Sackett, Director of the Ross Memorial Museum, Joan Lozinski, volunteer and philanthropist honoured for her work at the Art Gallery of Ontario and the National Ballet School, Ann McCain, Executive Director of the Harrison McCain Private Foundation, and Daniel Ben-Natan, Vice- President, Development and International Relations for the Israel Museum and Treasurer of the World Federation of Friends of Museums, discussed What Motivates Volunteers and Donors to Give to Museums.

Also in this issue is a review of the powerful and moving presentation by the Red Lake Regional Heritage Centre, which outlined the development of the exhibit: Residential Schools: the Red Lake Story. This exhibit set the context for a parallel travelling exhibition entitled Where are the Children? Healing the Legacy of Residential Schools, organized by the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, the Legacy of Hope Foundation and the National Archives of Canada.

Notably, this year CMA made a commitment to environmental sustainability by organizing a Carbon Neutral Conference. According to Calvin J. White, CMA President, approximately 42.5 tonnes of carbon will be released through travel, accommodation and energy consumption related to the conference. To offset these climate change-causing emissions, 934 trees will be planted across Canada in 2007, in accordance with afforestation criteria.

The 2008 CMA conference will be held April 8-12, in Victoria, B.C. We look forward to seeing you there.

THANK YOU TO JO BREYFOGLE

CFFM gratefully acknowledges the contribution of Jo Breyfogle as National Director, from 2004 to 2007. She came to the organization with a wealth of knowledge from her involvement as a volunteer and Trustee at the Royal Ontario Museum. During her time as National Director, she saw many changes, including staff, retiring board members, the transformation, (with noisy construction!) at the Art Gallery of Ontario and changes in the larger Canadian museum community. Jo met all of these challenges with characteristic determination and enthusiasm. Extremely committed to CFFM, Jo is reluctantly stepping down as National Director for health reasons. However, we are pleased that she will continue to be involved as a member of the Board, where her experience will be invaluable.

RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS: THE RED LAKE STORY

During the 2007 Canadian Museums Association Conference in Ottawa, representatives from the Red Lake Regional Heritage Centre made a moving and powerful presentation on the impact of residential schools. Opened in 2005, the Centre has played a leading role in preserving and promoting First Nations’ culture and heritage in Red Lake and across northwestern Ontario. In 2006, it hosted a travelling exhibit organized by the Legacy of Hope Foundation, the Aboriginal Healing Foundation and the National Archives of Canada, titled Where are the Children? Healing the Legacy of Residential Schools.

It should be noted that in 2002, a curator of the earlier Red Lake Museum, while mounting an exhibit of class photos for a high school reunion, found that in spite of the approximately 20% Aboriginal population of Red Lake, no Aboriginal children appeared in the photos prior to 1965. There were also no records of their education in the local archives. They had, of course, been educated in residential schools, a fact of which many of the local non-Aboriginal residents were unaware. It was therefore realized that for local people to understand the social and economic impact of residential schools on the community, a parallel exhibition needed to be mounted to place the local experience in context with the national exhibition. The result was Residential Schools: The Red Lake Story.

In developing The Red Lake Story, the Aboriginal community was consulted and a working relationship developed. Most important for them was that the Heritage Centre recognized the story needed to be told and had made every effort to balance the exhibit and present experiences in a sensitive manner. Also, the Centre did not shy away from possible controversies which might be generated.

The exhibits were accompanied by lectures and presentations. More than 1,200 people, including homeless people, board members from the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, principals from 25 schools in Northwestern Ontario, students from across the region, many out-of-town and local visitors, as well as government representatives toured the exhibitions. Discussion groups, healing circles, education programs, information sessions and decolonizing workshops were held. The local Children’s Aid Society ran training sessions for foster parents and Aboriginal youth workshops were facilitated by mental health workers and survivors of residential schools.

These exhibitions provided an opportunity for a small museum to present local history, educate, involve the community and bring an understanding of how past actions can affect the future. Our thanks to Michele Alderton, Director/Curator, and staff of the Red Lake Regional Heritage Centre, for providing the material and allowing us to publish this article. For more information, you can contact the Centre at: rlhc@goredlake.com, or visit www.redlakemuseum.com.

DID YOU KNOW?

• The Honourable Josée Verner was appointed Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in August. She replaces Minister Bev Oda. Ms. Verner was previously Minister of International Co-Operation and Minister for La Francophonie and Official Languages in the Federal government.
• The Alberta Museums Association’s annual conference will be held in Red Deer this September 20-22. Contact: www.museumsalberta.ab.ca for more information.
• The Ontario Museums Association (OMA) is holding its annual conference October 24-26, in Toronto. For information, go to: conference@museumsontario.com.
• Sadly, the death of Signe McMichael, founder of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Kleinburg, Ontario, and a dedicated arts supporter, was announced in July.
• The Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park, located 100 kms. east of Calgary, opened in July and is Canada’s largest museum owned and operated by First Nations.
• Meg Beckel, formerly Chief Operating Officer of the Royal Ontario Museum, has been appointed Vice-President of the University of Waterloo. Glen Dobbin has joined the ROM as Deputy Director, Operations. He was previously General Manager of Ontario Place, Toronto.
• David Palmer, former President and Executive Director, Royal Ontario Museum, has been appointed Vice-President and Chief Advancement Officer of the University of Toronto.
• The Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, has appointed Tasha Ethelston as Director of Public Programs and Education. She was previously the Gallery’s Public Programs Co-Ordinator.

VOLUNTEERING AT JOSEPH BRANT MUSEUM

Joseph Brant Museum is one of two heritage sites that come under the umbrella of Museums of Burlington, Ontario. It has been Burlington’s community museum since 1942, with a volunteer program since 1975. A small group of volunteers assisted in every possible way to support the Museum, whether it was painting walls, fund raising, organizing special events, or helping with public and education programs. Over the years, the volunteer program has become increasingly specialized to meet the ever-growing professional needs of the Museum.

Under the supervision of the Curator of Collections, volunteers have the opportunity to learn about collections management, and develop new skills, such as cataloguing, exhibit preparation and installation, research, data entry, and maintaining the research/reference library. The work is on-going and takes a small army of committed volunteers, some of whom have been with the Museum for over 30 years and offer continuity and experience. More recent volunteers are no less enthusiastic in their support. For example, Steve Scheffer, a 2-year “veteran” is characteristic of the volunteer spirit.

When Steve first decided to join the Museum’s volunteer program, he wasn’t quite sure how he wanted to help, but was interested in research and antiques. Immediately, he proved to be a good fit for assisting with the cataloguing of newly acquired artifacts. This required skills such as organization, patience, attention to detail and good research abilities. Steve’s enthusiasm to support collections activities soon spilled over into doing research on specific topics, and assisting with the preparation, installation and dismantling of exhibits. No matter what need arose, the Museum could always count on Steve saying “Sure, I’d be happy to help!”. In a work environment that is always stretched to the limits for time and staffing, Joseph Brant Museum is truly indebted to this type of invaluable volunteer support.

CFFM BOARD NEWS

At its Annual General Meeting on March 30th in Ottawa, CFFM welcomed two new Directors – Peter Homulos and Wally Kozar. Peter and Wally, both of Ottawa, have worked in the Federal Heritage Department for many years. With their professional experience and additional volunteer interests, they will be valuable additions to the Board. Morris Flewwelling, of Red Deer, Alberta, a long-time Director, has resigned from the Board and has been appointed to the Advisory Council.