ANNUAL REPORTS

CMA 2009 Annual Report

(click cover to download PDF)

2009 was mostly a year of financial uncertainty for the museum community. The global financial crisis affected museums and the CMA as well.

Canada was fortunate not to be too adversely affected and the steps taken to stimulate the economy benefited many museums and galleries largely in the area of greater infrastructure spending. Generally, museum attendance held its own, largely due to increases from local or regional visitors. However, international tourism saw a decrease, especially from the United States. Donations were also seriously affected.

Museums had been encouraged by governments to build endowments, but these now produce very small incomes due to current low interest rates. As a result the CMA has proposed several innovative programs to help encourage donations to museums operations and benefit tax and employment strategies.

As governments start to deal with these new deficits, it is clear we are in a new era and cuts to programs will begin in late 2010.

The CMA intends to play a very strong role in the process of providing advice to the government and to the museum community on new directions to take. The CMA will also vigorously defend the legitimate role of museums as valued public services for the benefit of all.

Your membership involvement and the need for a strong independent national voice, working closely with all partners including from different sectors, will be more critical than ever.

These challenges may be an opportunity for us to move in significant new directions and to gain greater control over the role and potential of our important institutions, both large and small.

Copies of the complete audited statement are available upon request.