Museum Grant Program
Museums are encouraged to apply for annual funding through the Museum Grant Program (MGP).
The MGP provides three streams of operational support to qualifying museums throughout the province. Until recently, the Museums Association of Saskatchewan (MAS) promoted, adjudicated and evaluated the program through a contractual arrangement with SaskCulture.
In 2008, SaskCulture completed a comprehensive funding review which recommended SaskCulture take back the administration of all third party funding, such as the MGP. As a result, the Museum Grant Program is now administered directly through SaskCulture.
The Museum Grant Program consists of three funding streams, representative of the varying levels of development found in Saskatchewan Museums.
First-time applicants are eligible for Stream One funding.
Program Objectives
- Museums achieve operational excellence based upon the Museums Association of Saskatchewan’s Standards for Saskatchewan Museums- 2002.
- There is a stable funding environment for museums from year to year.
- Planning and evaluation are appreciated as an integral part of program development and sound museum operations.
- There is appropriate accountability to Saskatchewan Lotteries Trust Fund for Sport, Culture and Recreation.
- To provide a lever for additional funding assistance from other funding agencies (e.g.) matching funds.
- To assist museums in raising their profiles within their local communities and broader.
- To provide a validation process for museums within the museum community.
- To provide an effective system of evaluation for the distribution of funds.
- To provide funds based on the merit and quality of museum operations.
Criteria
The amount granted to each museum depends upon the following:
- The merit of a museum’s operations, as adjudicated by the peer Jury, utilizing the Museums Association of Saskatchewan’s Standards for Saskatchewan Museums – 2002;
- The number of museums applying for funds; and
- The total funds available in the program (as these are lottery proceeds, the total funds available may vary from year to year).
Eligibility
An institution must:
- Meet the following definition of museum “… a non-profit making institution in the service of society and its development, and open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates, and exhibits, for the purposes of study, education, and enjoyment, material evidence of people and their environment”;
- Be incorporated as a non-profit organization or be a public institution;
- Have been open to the public and fully operational for at least one year;
- Have a permanent facility with public access and space designated for museum/gallery use only;
- Hold clear ownership of a majority of items in its collection;
- Maintain separate financial records.
In addition, your museum must not:
- Be part of a federal or provincial operation and/or Crown Corporation;
- Receive more than 50 percent of its total revenues from the Saskatchewan Lotteries Trust Fund (SLTF). (Exception: Stream I funding applicants may receive up to 75% of their funding from the SLTF.);
- Receive funding directly from the Culture Section of Saskatchewan Lotteries Fund;
- Receive funding directed by the Government of Saskatchewan.
Contact SaskCulture for application assistance if your museum has not applied previously to the Museums Grant Program.
Past Recipients
Museum Grant Program Recipients, 2009
Information about the
Museum Grant Program Committee.
MGP Stream I Application Form