Manitoba Craft Museum & Library Space Needs
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MANITOBA CRAFT MUSEUM & LIBRARY SPACE NEEDS ASSESSMENT COMMUNITY FOCUS GROUPS PATRICIA BOVEY, FRSA, FCMA FACILITATOR NOVEMBER 2013 I. PURPOSE The Manitoba Craft Museum and Library (MCML) became a stand-alone craft museum incorporated 2001, having been part of the original Crafts Guild of Manitoba founded in 1928. The purpose of this space assessment and focus groups is to enable the MCML to make strategic decisions regarding the required space and preferred location for MCML upcoming move to new rental premises at the end of August 2015, the end of their current lease. II. PROCESS 1. MEETINGS WITH CURATOR AND THE BOARD The facilitator met with Andrea Reichert, Curator, Sept. 9t1t, 2013, to discuss the approach and needs for the museum from her perspective, and subsequently met with the Board on October 6th, to review the process and scope for the community focus groups being recommended. 2. COMMUNITY FOCUS GROUPS Three facilitated Community Focus Groups were held on Nov. 7, 13 and 19th, 2013. The groups comprised a mix of craftspeople, board members, volunteers, community members and representatives from colleague institutions and local government. Names of participants are listed in the Appendix. The invitation to participants noted the goals of the focus groups as being to determine how to: • Best meet the craft needs of our community • Fundraise effectively for the move and for our on-going financial needs • Determine the best type of space for exhibits, public programming and our in useum and I ihrarv collections 1 LII. THE MCML: BACKGROUND & CURRENT STATUS The MCML is an active museum and library focused on craft. The museum: • maintains a collection of 10,000 craft works and archival materials, and 3500 library titles. The craft collection holdings include: o textiles o ceramics o soapstone c wood o metal • presents exhibitions of both historical and contemporary craft • provides hands-on workshops and programs • presents artists’ talks • delivers in-school programs related to craft in MB • affords research resources for many crafts through its library and archives to its members and the wider community • offers a small shop focused on selling local crafts • presents the Artisans’ Market, the juried sale, in the spring and fall of each year Fiscally sound, the MCML is well governed and managed and the staff consists of one part-time curator and, as grants allow, student and part-time assistance. The MCML also has a corps of dedicated and knowledgeable volunteers who contribute approximately 1500 hours of service per year. The Board developed a four-year business and Strategic Plan in 2007, and reviewed its Guiding Principles and Strategic Initiatives in 2011. The MCML has been meeting its goals and projections, which were modest given their space and fundraising capacity. Now housed in the centre of Winnipeg, near the Legislative Buildings, the Law Courts, the Winnipeg Art Gallery, Dalnavert and close to the Manitoba Museum and the soon-to-be-opened Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the MCML collections and exhibitions are unique. Some MCML holdings dovetail with aspects of several larger museological institutions in Manitoba’s Capital city, particularly the lnuit and Decorative Arts collections of the Winnipeg Art Gallery and the textile and costume collections of the Manitoba Museum. The MCML currently occupies 1500 square feet. Its one exhibition space also serves as workshop and meeting spaces. Exhibitions therefore must have flexibility in installation in order to accommodate the other needs of the Museum. The library is also within the exhibition space. Collection storage is in a secure space behind the public area. There is also a kitchen and behind-scenes volunteer workspace. The exterior door opens directly into the exhibition area. The audience of the MCML is comprised of tourists and residents, and many are repeat visitors. The average age at present Is 50-55. The membership is small but growln IV. RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS Over the past several years the MCML has undertaken a number ofnew initiatives which have positioned them well for developing ongoing audience participation and program and financial partnerships, critical for undertaking the move to larger, and thus more expensive premises. These Include: • Having the collection on exhibit outside the MCML through both the Mosaic on Tour exhibit with Manitoba Arts Network 2011-2012, and the Quilt exhibit at the Buhler Gallery In 2012. • Establishing the Made By You Signature FundraIser. • Improving MCML social media presence by getting involved with Facebook, and to a lesser extent Pinterest, and using Mail Chimp to circulate information to members and non-members. • Establishing MCML Guiding Principles. • Revising the website visually and switching to a Wordpress format site so updates can be done more easily. • Establishing the Manitoba Crafts Museum and Library Fund at the Winnipeg Foundation in 2007. • Making the conscious decision to add contemporary work from Individuals and groups into at least one ofthe three exhibitions presented annually. • Revising our MCML Virtual Museum of Canada ExhIbit and being selected to participate in the Textile Museum of Canada’s exhibit to be launched in 2014. • Continually improving our collections care and documentation through a new database, an artifact photograph project and on-going collections care achievements. • Working with other organizations such as Dalnavert, Manitoba Crafts Council, MAWA, Martha Street Studio and others on programming and exhibits. • Participating in Culture Days, partnering with the WAG for Nuit Blanche, and with Doors Open (Heritage Winnipeg). • Digitizing the library catalogue and uploading it to AMICUS. V. FOCUS GROUP SUMMARY All participants commented on the importance of the MCML and the growing interest in the ‘hand-made’ object, contemporary and historic. Today craft is seen as personal connections to prior generations and to past community and cultural traditions. Craft also embraces many present societal concerns including education, the environment health and other social and multi cultural issues. 3 The MCML was seen by the participants as being: • unique in the constellation of Manitoba’s museums and cultural organizations • currently limited in its ability to reach its potential audiences and artistic and community impacts given its present space restrictions • its entrance not being on the street is a detriment for profile and walk-in traffic. In summary, all participants felt: • the space should be larger — about 3 times its current space • the MCML should present an ongoing balance of contemporary and historical presentations and programs • the museum should he in a central location with easy access and good parking. There was unanimity in most of the discussions, though each group brought up particular issues and interests. These are reflected in the details below. VI. ARTICULATED ISSUES & NEEDS FOR THE NEW MCML The following issues and needs were unanimous: 1. EXHIBITION SPACES & OPPORTUNITIES a. Exhibition Scope: All participants stated the need for the MCML to raise its profile by regularly presenting a balanced exhibition program including contemporary and historical exhibitions. It was felt that public and corporate funding opportunities exist for each field if the MCML had the space and required environmental capabilities. More wall space and cases are needed. b. Contemporary Exhibitions: It was clearly stated that the MCML should have the capability to present major contemporary craft exhibitions which could be group shows or significant solo retrospectives. These should be eligible for project grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Manitoba Arts Council and the Winnipeg Arts Council. Dedicated contemporary exhibition space was noted as being essential, requiring: • good lighting (needs to be flexible — no more than 50 lox for textiles and works on paper; can be up to 120 lox for canvas, glass and ceramics) 4 • moveable walls would be a very real asset • good ceiling height (one space should Ideally have a 14 foot ceiling to accommodate large quilts) • good floor space to accommodate pedestals and plinths for the presentation of the three dimensional works • ability to hang from the ceiling c. Hlstorlcal/ Permanent Collection Exhibitions: It was also felt that given the substance of the MCML collections, that a smaller space dedicated to works from the collection should be provided, and that exhibitions from the collection could be organized to complement the contemporary presentation. Funding for collection and historical exhibitions should be available from Manitoba Heritage Grant Program and various Foundations, as well as corporate sponsorship. Lighting needs for the smaller gallery are as those for the larger gallery. The ceiling height should be lower, 10 feet and the square footage smaller, thus creating a more Intimate space for viewing smaller works. d. Library integration with Exhibitions: The library should be In a dedicated quiet space. I was also felt that relevant rare works from the Library might be part of specific exhibitions. Reference selections should be available for the visitors to consult The opportunity to link the art library and archival resources from on Institutional collection Is rare. It was also suggested that the library holdings ofthe MCML should be on the catalogue database for the university and public libraries, and perhaps be connected to World Cat the key International library database. Some of the books might