Imagine a stable, secure arts organization with a full strong board of directors, financially sustainable, able to not only provide but expand its programming in the arts. That's a plus for Salmon Arm.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Amalgamation
The term that caught our ear was "superboard." It brought images of us all wearing a giant "S" on our blue unitards. We laughed long and hard, but then got down to business. The Shuswap District Arts Council and Shuswap Art Gallery Association (SAGA) are amalgamating. The Arts Centre has housed both organizations for the last 16 years, and it has become clear that they both have the same goals in mind - to provide excellent arts programming to this community. The benefits include greater cost efficiencies in accounting, insurance, office expenses, staffing, memberships and contracts. This is going to save literally thousands of dollars. The drawbacks, I don't know, haven't thought of any yet. Everything will look and feel the same as it did before. The gallery will continue to operate as it has done for the last 17 years. The Arts Council will continue to manage programs such as Wednesday On the Wharf (now in happy partnership with the Downtown Association). To most nothing will change. To SDAC and SAGA members, they will have one membership to pay each year and won't have to remember to which organization they belong. To me, the big plus is one board meeting a month, one AGM a year, one Annual Report to prepare, one phone to answer.... the list goes on.
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Well there you go. Makes sense. And which org will continue? SDAC or SAGA? (which group is more likely to receive ongoing funding?)
ReplyDeleteIt's the Arts Council that will maintain its society status and charitable tax number. SAGA will retire its numbers but maintain its own vision, mandate and committee. Since the AC has the ties with BC Arts Council, it makes sense to do it this way. Clyde Tucker was enormously helpful with this process. He had a legal eagle look at the situation and recommend the best course of action.
ReplyDeleteAh, good on Clyde. Good for all of you. Will there be a requisite bottle of champagne to celebrate the union?
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for posting Wendy Browne note, I was one of maybe just one who appeared April 15, hoping for a mid-month gallery opening, thanks to news from Friday AM and not my own brain.