How is Your Museum Responding to Tough Economic Times?

Ted Silberberg of Lord Cultural Resources authored this article,

Challenging Economic Times: Threat or Opportunity? that appears in the September/October 2009 edition of MUSE, a publication of the Canadian Museums Association.

In it he suggests a number of strategies that might assist cultural organizations to respond proactively to the current economic crisis. Of particular importance is the emphasis on building repeat visits from local audiences, investing in public programming, developing cross-promotions with internal and external (community) partners, and collaborating with like organizations to encourage operational efficiencies.

These are strategies that should be integrated into organizational planning, in good and bad times.

Studios at Hotel Hamilton

As many municipal governments wrestle with the concept of becoming a 'creative city', entrepreneurs in Hamilton continue to lead the way. You will enjoy reading about the Hotel Hamilton initiative, where a 19th century flophouse is becoming a 'creative cluster' at the corner of James Street North and Mulberry in the steel-town's core. The story is written by Paul Morse, and appears in today's edition of the Hamilton Spectator.

Sweet and Sour

On our way from Brantford to Hanover on Saturday, a sign outside the Wesley United Church, adjacent the Cambridge (Galt) Farmer's Market caught our eye. Apple Dumplings! Sure we were in a hurry, but our day immediately slowed a little. After a walk through the market we went into the church and purchased a half dozen dumplings, with rum sauce, to go.

The Wesley United Church Apple Dumpling Corps has been selling the dumplings on Saturday mornings for more than fifteen years, raising funds for projects like their church restoration or for worthy community causes.

You can eat in or take away, as we did, enjoying them after a dinner of country garlic sausage (from Carl's Custom Meats, located in the market) and sauerkraut with Marlene's parents.

The sauerkraut isn't the sour in this story. A short while later, as we passed through Harriston, we noticed three snowmobiles driving half the length of the town on the main street sidewalk! I'm sure Saturday is one of the town's busier shopping days, and we all know how difficult it is to get people to stop and shop in small town Ontario. The last thing merchants need is another obstacle to deter visitors and residents from enjoying an afternoon on our streets.

There is an abundance of well groomed snowmobile trails maintained by local clubs throughout Ontario. Saturday snowmobilers - join a club and keep your sleds off our sidewalks.