Agenda Index City of Vancouver

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

TO:

Standing Committee on City Services & Budgets

FROM:

Director of the Office of Cultural Affairs, Director of Finance and Manager of Facilities Development

SUBJECT:

Vancouver Museum Revitalization Program - Phase 3

 

RECOMMENDATION


GENERAL MANAGERS' COMMENTS

The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of the foregoing.

COUNCIL POLICY

The 1997-1999 Capital Plan includes funding of up to $3 million for Vancouver Museum Revitalization Plan. Council approved Phase 1 funding of $490,000 on November 7, 1996, and Phase 2 funding of $850,000 in February 1997. The 1999 Capital Budget includes a $1,660,000 allocation for Phase 3.

PURPOSE

This report requests approval of capital funds of $1,660,000 for Phase 3 of the Vancouver Museum Revitalization Project which includes the creation of The Joyce Walley Learning Centre and the galleries and exhibit infrastructure for The Vancouver Story.

BACKGROUND

Since February of 1996, Council has approved a series of actions to begin a process of revitalization at the Vancouver Museum, including approval in principle of $3 million in the 97/99 Capital Plan. The Museum's revitalization project is making improvements to the City-owned building in Vanier Park, necessary to upgrade the facility to contemporary building codes and museum standards, to improve the lay-out and accessibility of the museum, and to provide current and relevant exhibits necessary to attract new and repeat visitors. Phase 1 of the project, the refurbishment of the "A" wing galleries, completed on time and under budget, initiated the program. The "A" wing gallery now up to current gallery standards of presentation and controls, is programmed with very successful exhibits, City Lights: Neon in Vancouver and Through My Eyes, an Exploration of First Nations Artifacts. The new galleries will host Dresses for Humanity this summer, an exhibition of Lady Diana's dresses.

Phase 2, also completed on time and on budget included the new Orientation Gallery, a new gift shop, lobby refurbishment, and other customer service capital improvements. Staff commend the Museum staff, consultants, Commissioners and Building Committee members for the impressive results through Phases 1 and 2.

The Vancouver Museum Commission is requesting that Council advance the funds necessary to complete Phase 3 of their three-phase revitalization program. Staff have reviewed their program, budget, schedule and concur that proceeding with Phase 3 at this time is in the best interest of the project and are therefore seeking Council's approval for the allocation of the final $1,660,000, said funds to be disbursed in four stages, each stage subject to a conditions outlined below.

DISCUSSION

The Proposed Improvements:

Phase 3, the final phase of the Museum Revitalization project includes the infill of B-wing, the creation of a learning centre, a new gallery for the permanent collection, The Vancouver Storey and the exhibit infrastructure to bring the Museum exhibits up to current standards and competitiveness.

The learning centre is to be named The Joyce Walley Learning Centre in memory of Mrs. Joyce Walley, a long-time Vancouver Museum docent and volunteer, made possible through a $1.5 million donation from Dr. Ken Walley. The Learning Centre will provide a hands-on environment for both children and adults to explore and experience the collection. It will also provide much needed public programming area as well as an attractive rental venue.

The Museum's permanent exhibition about Vancouver has not been refurbished since 1983.The story told in 1983 was curiously devoid of information on First Nations history, or indeed any history beyond European settlement. The Museum plans a fresh and inclusive approach to telling The Vancouver Story.

The Vancouver Story is planned to communicate the rich natural history of the region, the extensive occupation by the First Nations, and the evolving history as successive waves of settlement moved into this dramatic natural setting of mountains, rivers, forest and sea and transformed it into a major urban complex. The Vancouver Story should extend from the evolution of the natural environment through the centuries to present contemporary political and social issues of urban growth, development and the impact of conservation on the existing natural environment.

The Vancouver Museum has an extensive collection of artifacts. What it needs is to re-engage with the narratives and histories behind these artifacts - the individuals, families and businesses who have shaped the city. The First step in developing The Vancouver Story is a master planning process which engages with the community to test and explore ways of telling their stories. This work dovetails with the City's Millennium and is planned to provide a seamless process to re-engage with the community and build an inclusive and collective new story.

The Budget:

Total expenditures for Phase 3 are budgeted at $7,258,255 (Sept 00$). Funds committed to date include $1,660,000 which is the balance of the City's $3 million commitment allocated in the 1997-1999 Capital Plan, and the $1,465,000 Walley Trust, now transferred from the VMA to the Vancouver Museum Commission (VMC). This leaves a revenue shortfall of $4.1 million which is to be raised through a capital campaign.

The Vancouver Museum has completed a Fund Raising Feasibility Study and have concluded that they are not yet ready to launch a $4 million capital campaign. Further, the consultant advised against moving on any campaign in the current economic climate. The study did however find good support for the Museum, made suggestions for building their fund raising capability and recommended a launch in 18 months time when they projected a better economic climate. The Museum have adopted the Study recommendations and are actively working in a pre-campaign mode to build audience awareness (Dresses for Humanity, the Millennium Project), to bring on the technical expertise and volunteers necessary to launch a campaign.

Staff have reviewed the campaign plans to date and believe that moving forward at this time with the master planning work provides the best possible opportunity for the Museum to built relationships in the community and develop their fund raising capacity.
The Four Stages of Phase 3:

Staff have reviewed the steps necessary to complete Phase 3 and recommend the disbursement of funds in four stages to both provide an incentive for fund raising and to ensure that sufficient funds are in hand to complete each stage of the project. The VMC has reviewed these conditions and agreed to them (see attached letter).

Staff recommend to Council the release of $500,000 on receipt and acceptance of evidence of pledges for at least $500,000 in funds raised. If the campaign results in more funds raised, then the City will release the balance of the grant on a one-for-one matching basis up to a maximum of $879,000 ($1,660,000, less Stage 1: $100,000 and less Stage 2: $181,000.)

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The 1999 Basic Capital Budget includes a $1.66 million allocation to the Phase 3 work outlined in this report. There may also be additional operating costs associated with the renovation work that is proposed, however, until the work is more clearly defined, it is impossible to estimate this cost.

CONCLUSION

Staff believe that the program, schedule and budget are realistic and that moving forward with the First stage of Phase 3 is appropriate at this time. While the fund raising requirements are a significant challenge for the Museum, the VMC need to move quickly to meet the challenge and take advantage of the fund raising opportunities which can be harnessed around your current exhibits and programs as well as the Millennium project.

N0TE FROM CLERK: ELECTRONIC COPIES OF APPENDICES ARE NOT AVAILABLE - ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK.

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cs990617.htm

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