2023 Budget - Arts, Culture and Heritage

As an integral part of the collective memory of the community, the Peterborough Museum & Archives preserves, presents, and promotes the heritage and culture of Peterborough and area, and also provides other significant heritage programs for the education and enjoyment of both visitors and residents.

The 2023 Museum Operating Budget reflects the delivery of standard services and operations. It is anticipated that the Museum will gradually return to pre-pandemic delivery standards as pandemic-related restrictions ease.

Museum key performance indicators

Museum 2021 Key Performance Indicators reflect its Five-Year Plan Accommodation Objectives (2018-2023), as approved by the Museum & Archives Advisory Committee (Report MAAC18-008). For comparative purposes, the Performance Data for 2020 is included in parentheses.

Visitor experience

• 1,899 (2,894) participants engaged in 174 (133) programs
• 7,681 (2,832) visitors experienced the exhibition galleries during 1,647 (1,669) open hours

Preservation of collections

• 1,553 (1,329) artifacts cleaned and housed for storage
• 137 (100) artifacts and 9 (305) linear feet of archival material were accepted into the permanent collections

Access to collections 

• 303 (203) external researchers received one-on-one on-site assistance
• 316 (312) artifacts were interpreted through displays

Fleming College partnership

• 68 (68) heritage professionals-in-training were mentored 

The Art Gallery of Peterborough (AGP), incorporated in 1974, is a Registered Charity Public Art Gallery dedicated to exhibiting and collecting contemporary Canadian visual works of art with a focus on artists practicing within the local region. Exhibitions are enhanced with talks, tours, publications, and education programs. Funds are generated from memberships, government grants, donations, sponsorships, fundraising, Gallery Shop, education programs, and touring exhibits.

The AGP has received supplementary provincial funding through the OAC’s Arts Recovery Fund as well as the Canada Council and Canadian Heritage intended to offset loss of revenue as well as invest in improvements that will help stabilize and sustain the organization during recovery from the effects of the pandemic. The AGP is now fully operational after the pandemic restrictions and rebuilding volunteer support to assist with activities and events and it is anticipated that revenue from fees and donations will increase for 2023.

The Library's 2023 budget sees a continued return to pre-pandemic service levels with minimal adjustments for operating costs. An internal staffing reorganization was implemented in 2022 to shift focus to a service-centric model. The Library is seeing an increase in technology costs associated with software licenses and product subscription fees. The costs associated with library book vendors and digital collections have also increased, largely due to publisher agreements and the fluctuating exchange rate of the US dollar. There has been a notable increase in digital collection usage since 2020.

The DelaFosse library branch has permanently closed. A new library branch will be included in the Arena and Aquatics Complex at Morrow Park. The costs to operate the DelaFosse branch have been removed from this budget and will need to be included in future budgets once the new branch opens at Morrow Park in 2024.

The Heritage Preservation Office (HPO) is responsible for the Heritage Property Tax Relief Program (HPTRP) heritage designation, archaeological investigations, supporting PACAC, Doors Open and preserving the City’s built heritage. The HPO advises Council and liaises with staff on issues relating to built heritage, designations, and the Heritage Register. The Heritage Hunt and Doors Open programs are returning to in person for 2023.

• 11 Heritage Property Tax Relief Program renewals in 2022 (13 forecast for 2022)
• 86 Heritage Property Tax Relief Program property inspections forecast for 2022 (0 completed in 2021)
• The Heritage Property Tax Relief Program: This program has been demonstrated to generate revenues through increased assessment in excess of the tax incentive provided, but new acceptance of properties into the program has been suspended pending a funding increase.
• Doors Open attendance in 2021 was 4,669, with forecasted attendance in 2022 at 1,300.

Arts Culture and Heritage Administration

The Arts, Culture and Heritage Division is responsible for the provision of arts, culture, heritage, the Municipal Cultural Plan, cultural facilities, services, and resources. In 2023, the budget includes funding for: education and awareness of the City's Public Art program, strategic goals and direction for the Arts, Culture and Heritage Committee, and a proposed update of the Municipal Cultural Plan goals and objectives for the next five years.

Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee

The Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (PACAC) is a legislated committee of council which advises on matters relating to the conservation of the community’s built heritage, including listing and designation of properties under the Ontario Heritage Act, alterations to heritage buildings, reviewing planning applications relating to heritage resources, participating in municipal planning exercises relating to heritage matters, and public education programming such as Doors Open Peterborough and the Heritage Hunt.