Agenda Index City of Vancouver

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

TO:

Standing Committee on City Services & Budgets

FROM:

Directors, Office of Cultural Affairs and Finance

SUBJECT:

A.S.T.C. Science World
- Annual Review and 2001 Operating Grant Request

 

RECOMMENDATION

GENERAL MANAGERS' COMMENTS

COUNCIL POLICY

Council has approved annual grants to A.S.T.C. Science World to support their ongoing operations since 1982 through either the "Other Grants" or "Cultural Grants" budgets. In 1997 Council directed that this grant be considered in the context of the "Other Grants" category.

Approval of grants requires eight affirmative votes of Council.

PURPOSE

This report provides a review of Science World's 2000 activities, and presents for Council's consideration their 2001 operating grant request.

BACKGROUND

The A.S.T.C. Science World Society has received civic support since its inception in 1982. In 1989 the Society moved into the renovated EXPO Centre. The land is owned by the City and leased to the Province. The Province subleases the land and building to the Society for the purposes of operating a science centre.

Science World provides hands-on, educational and entertaining programming, exhibitions and films founded in arts, science and technology. It also provides curriculum-based education programs, training programs for science teachers and a career-mentioning program for young scientists.

2000 Year In Review

Science World continued its mission in 2000 through a combination of changing featured exhibits, films, and special events and the facility's exhibit and theatre infrastructure. Featured exhibits in 2000 included Grossology: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body and Robotics. Both are representative of the type of educational and entertaining programming Science World has targeted at children and family audiences. Special Events programmed in 2000 to compliment the featured exhibits included Wacky Science Month and a Gross Out Festival. As well, Science World continued to play partnership role with the Molson Indy, and the Dragon Boat Festival providing complimentary events and programs.

As part of Science World's ReGeneration Plan, a multi-year capital reinvestment plan, two new galleries and exhibits were completed in 2000 including the Science Theatre with new high-definition video technology, Kidspace, and the Arcade Lab.

Science World continued with its science education programs and outreach activities in 2000. Scientists and Innovators in the Schools sent volunteer scientists, engineers, technologists and technicians to work in the schools throughout the province. The Engaging Science program, a joint venture of Science World, the Pacific Space Centre and the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, continues to present professional development workshops to BC teachers.

Attendance at Science World in 2000 was up 8% over the previous year with a total of 495,333 visitors including 69,226 school visits.

2001 Plans

The major event in 2001 is China! 7000 Years of Innovation, presented in partnership with the China Science & Technology Museum of Beijing. The exhibition focuses on revolutionary Chinese inventions such as papermaking, printing, silk production, the compass and seismic predictors. The exhibition opened in March and is scheduled to continue until September. A list of upcoming exhibitions and Omnimax films are attached to this report as Appendix "B".

ReGeneration plans for 2001 include the June 6th opening of Our World a new permanent exhibition and gallery focussing on issues of sustainability such as transportation, electricity, water consumption, garbage/waste disposal, and food production. Design and fabrication work is continuing on the next phases of capital improvements including a $2.5 million Science Arcade scheduled to open in 2002/2003.

Attendance for 2001 is targeted at 510,000 visits. In the month following the opening of the China! exhibition, attendance was up 47% over target. Since the transit strike, however, attendance has dropped back to the anticipated 25% over 2000 levels. While this is still ahead of projections, it would appear that the transit strike is having an adverse effect on attendance, and therefore on revenues. On a positive note, Science World reports a significant increase in adult audiences and first time visitors to the China! exhibition.

DISCUSSION

On March 15, 2001, City Council approved the Operating Budget Interim Estimates, which provided for an inflationary increase of 1% for the City's grant programs. Staff are recommending a 2000 operating grant of $81,204 based on the 2000 approved funding level and increased by 1%.

OCA and Finance staff have reviewed the budgets and assumptions and support the financial projections as reasonable in relation to recent experience at Science World, as well as other local exhibiting institutions. The audited financial statements for the year ending February 29, 2001 are attached to this report as Appendix "A". Science World had an excess of revenues over expenditures of $22,000 on a total operating budget of $7.2 million.

The organization is well managed and maintains tight controls on its budget. It does however have a significant challenge in building its budget to provide for a more diversified revenue stream. With 79% of its total budget derived from earned revenues, Science World continues to benefit from strong visitor support but is vulnerable to unforseen market forces such as thetransit strike or extraordinarily good weather. The balance of revenues are primarily from private sector donations. While Science World does receive some support from senior government for projects, the City's grant is the only operating grant available to Science World at this time. Staff support Science World staff's proposal to seek long term funding relationships with senior governments, and to increase their endowment fund and build up their working capital reserves to support a more balanced and stable future.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The source of funds for the operating grant is the "Other" Grants allocation in the 2001 Budget.

CONCLUSION

Staff recommend continued operating support for A.S.T.C. Science World Society in the amount of $81,204.

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Appendix A on file in the City Clerk's Office

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