From ailing cooling systems to toxic chemicals, a museum tour shines a light on the effects of austerity
To drive home the impact of stagnant support for arts and culture, the Museum of Vancouver is offering “austerity tours” of its aging campus
The Museum of Vancouver (MOV) has launched a new exhibition titled "Austerity Tours," which aims to reveal the impact of reduced funding on the museum's operations. The tours highlight how decades of funding stagnation have led to deteriorating facilities and aging equipment. The exhibition coincides with Vancouver's civic and provincial elections, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
According to a MOV spokesperson, the museum relies on funding from the city of Vancouver, the province of British Columbia, and the federal government. Despite strong visitor numbers and growth, government support has lagged behind inflation, making sustainable funding increasingly difficult to achieve.
During the tour, visitors are introduced to various issues stemming from the museum's financial constraints. These include leaking light fixtures, depleted greenery, and the use of makeshift measures like drip trays to catch moisture from malfunctioning HVAC systems. The tour also showcases the MOV's taxidermy storage area, which houses local wildlife and requires careful maintenance due to the presence of toxic chemicals like arsenic and mercury.
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