Tom HThanks so much
It will allow us to do a much better job at the Remembrance Day presentation.
Really appreciate the assistance.
Tom
Tom HThanks so much
It will allow us to do a much better job at the Remembrance Day presentation.
Really appreciate the assistance.
Tom
Tom HPlease do a check around
Robert Taylor is a well renown artist and his works are highly valued, especially signed.
If they are framed well it increases the value even more.
I would guess 150 pounds is low
Tom
Tom HPlease do a check around
Robert Taylor is a well renown artist and his works are highly valued, especially signed.
If they are framed well it increases the value even more.
I would guess 150 pounds is low
Tom
Tom HThe Barkely Grow and the Fokker shown in the pics belonged to Yukon Southern Air Transport (Grant McConachie!!!).
Would kill to have one of the A-20s or the P-39 in our collection.
Fitting these pics are here with the 70th Anniversary of the Northwest Staging route.
Tom HThe RFP (request for proposals) process administered by the City of Calgary is ongoing and as I understand (1) of the RFPs will be selected in the next 60-90days. (Best of luck to the Calgary Mossie Society!)
In the end the aircraft will be restored and remain in Calgary.
Tom
Tom HEvening Tom, why did I provide that link – now I’ll let off a bit of steam! 😉
No really – free admission for the Nationals is something that the Independent Museum sector in the UK has had to live with for many years.
The biggest impact comes from some sections of the paying public who think that every museum receives a hefty government grant and then ask “why do we have to pay here when it’s free at xyz museum?” 😮 They then recoil when advised we get no central funding!
I suspect that with the latest grant cutbacks many of the Nationals are now struggling for income; and I always raise a wry smile when some of them are the biggest online advertisers on sites like this and the good old taxpayer is ultimately footing the bill.
Within the Independent sector there is some good evaluation work being done by AIM (Association of Independent Museums) to assess the economic impacts of the Independent sector; more reading / downloading for you here http://www.aim-museums.co.uk/pages/pg-18-aim-economic-impact-paper/
NAM (if you’ll pardon the pun) helped pilot the AIM Toolkit last year and based on its 2009 visitor figures it was estimated to have generated an additional £700k beneficial spend into the local economy – over and above what its own income was.
That made us feel good about ourselves and what we contribute indirectly to our local economy! 😀
Morning and thanks for the comments
ONce again you and I have shared many of the same experiences and cocked eyebrows at similar things.
Thanks for the link….we have asimilar bag of tools and it’s amazing at how much operations such as ours (yours and mine) contribute to the local economy…literally millions of dollars of year in economic impacts and services!
I drive the point home where ever possible and think all of the private museums should.
Thanks again for the comments
Tom
Tom HTom, I think you misread the discussion. The person enquiring for feedback wished to establish one criteria for their survey which was vital, whether the respondent museum was free entry or not – which informs other aspects of the feedback.
Secondly they were trying to establish is ‘free with donations possible’, or ‘entry costs’ were options, and I among others provided feedback regarding aspects of the experience after those choices.
No one is suggesting ‘all’ museums should be free.
However I would say that I’m vehement that museums need to look and think globally regarding best practice, ideas and approaches. However there are some areas (fewer than conservative museum managers realise) where local cultural expectation has to be allowed first. The UK and N America (more the US than Canada, though) have fundamentally different expectations regarding free museum entry or not; and they are wrapped up in differing expectations of private wealth, tax breaks, government funding / interference and so on and so forth.
I don’t think any question of any demand on your museum (or case study type) to be free entry.
Regards,
Morning JDK
No I read the otehr thread correctly and understand what the OP was trying to do which is why I broke this dicussion off to a new thread.
But some of the comments in the other thread (no names no pack drill) were quie clear in my mind of what they expected.
Combined with a couple of bad days as well as on/off incidents regarding the topic with guests at our facility and others across Canada I know of drove me to ask the question.
I have never been acussed of being a conservative type in the Canadian or American museum world but at the same time as the person that is responsible for making sure the bills get paid I have come to a few IMO “truisms”.
1) A museums first duty is to survive
If you don’t survive you cannot accomplish the “core” of your mandate.
2) You must act in a business like fashion…for a lot of reasons, including paying the bills.
3) People have to want to come and you must work to make that happen.
At the same time on both forums, in person and in print presures are put on Museums to be better offer more and the expectations of restorations being absolutely correct, whatever the cost.
These things all cost large $$$$$
As I have described a private not for profit here gets “0” government support for the most part.
Yet the expectation both by some enthusiasts through the general public is they should be free!!!
The thought train does not make sene to me so I am trying to understand where this comes from.
Appreciate your comments
Tom
Tom HThanks for the post bomberflight (Peter)
I know the Museum in your post well and have studied it thoroughly.
The theme park twist is interesting as they no longer charge admission but do charge for the use of virtually everything except looking at the aircraft.
And while it and the another Museum have gone the theme park route
(the other has a 747 on the roof that is part of a waterpark!).
In my mind they are really not museums anymore…the core functions of education, archives and to an extent preservation are no longer there.
Now I am not deriding or being critical…just pointing out a “Business Choice” they have made to sustain operations and why they differ from a museum.
That said it does allow the operation to preserve the aircraft and create an exciting environment. There is a lot to be said for that.
I also appreciate your comments re: Museum A.
All accurate and in our museum we have addressed many of those same issues and found solutions.
We offer many of the same entertainment options as the museum in your example ( a good one BTW) but rather than charge for each option and compromise the core we have retained a modest admission and include all.
I guess being the one responsible for paying the bills and protecting the core functions puts me in a position/focus that I have a hard time getting over the expectation of a museum needing to be FREE. Your example is far from FREE, it simply generates the income in a different fashion.
Thanks for the post, information and comments
Tom
Tom HMk1
How did you sneak this one by us when you are only 300km away.
If you are interested could you PM your contact info?
Our museum does a number of events per year and it would be great to include you and the Spitfire.
Tom Hinderks
Alberta Aviation Museum
[email]eahs.execdirector@shawbiz.ca[/email]
Tom HMaybe its cultural….
We ran for a time on a by donation admission….people felt if it was by donation that meant free and it was a disaster.
We still do several days/events a year that are by donation (part of our insuring access to all) and they are very, very poor revenue generators.
We charge admission $10 CDN adult as well as other rates and admission numbers have only increased.
Our experience is that if its free you are getting what you pay for and if there is an admission it must be good.
Now I am speaking about the general public, veterans and enthusiasts are a different demographic and have always been very supportive. But you need the general public to get the numbers to make the economics work and more importantly to create awareness and to educate them on the history.
I also agree with all the comments on interactives and kids interactives.
We have dress up sections, ejection seats, select aircraft they can enter, mechanical and electronic flight simulators as well as 11 audio visual stations with seating and more.
Tom
Tom HSome advise from across the pond…
First piece of advise
A museum’s first duty is to survive!
Look at every possible source of revenue both in and out of the box.
At the Alberta Aviation Museum we do things as revenue generation that make others flinch…but it allows us to pursue the core duties of preservation, education, restoration etc.
Second
Marketing
If no one knows you are there you’re dead.
In this day and age a museum needs to be an exciting vibrant place that people (even those that don’t care about aviation) want to come to.
Last
Protect the core values at all times
Now just for comparison
1. Is your museum a registered charity?
Yes
2. Does it have any paid employees?
(6) + 2 part time, note we are open 363 days a year
3. Do you charge admission?
Yes
4. What are your charges/concessions etc?
http://www.albertaaviationmuseum.com, we charge for education programs K-12, summer camps and other programs as well
5. Do you have any other revenue streams (selling stock, refreshments etc.)
Yes as well as rentals,events, event planning, equipment rentals, TV and Movie work, education programming and others.
6. Are you VAT registered?
N/A
7. How have your visitor numbers changed in the last 12-18 months (i.e. during the recession) Are they up, down or unchanged?
Increasing…with changes we have made in operations and promotions over the last (5-6) years we have doubled in almost every area.
Wishing you all the best feel free to contact me direct.
Tom Hinderks
Alberta Aviation Museum
Edmonton, Alberta
[email]eahs.execdirector@shawbiz.ca[/email]
Tom HWestern Canada.
Hate to break the news to everyone but here in Western Canada there is no issue with the language…we don’t even say eh.
Tom
Tom HThere is a lot of conflicting information the media reports right now and as such I would suggest a pause for the cause till all the information filters through.
I am truly hoping for the best for CASM in Toronto and hope that they can find solutions short and long term and I know the Canadian Museum community is ready and able to help as much as we can.
My concern however is growing for the building…it is an un designated historic site on Federal land. Should these early reports bear out it must be protected and preserved (great place for a museum) and will likely take Canada wide pressure to insure that happens.
Best solution in my mind is a way to preserve the museum in the building with the building designated historically and protected.
Tom
Tom HIf and I say if…it comes to it there are options for the Lancaster
– Canada’s National Museum of the Air Force is in nearby Trenton and a Lanc would be great beside a Hali.
-The Canadian National Aerospace Museum…would love a Lancaster.
-The Windsor Group is close by.
-Vintage Wings, maybe but not their typical mandate.
-I doubt Canadian Warplane Heritage would turn down a second Lanc.
Plus there are another bunch of us that would love a Lancaster.
Tom
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