Morse Museum launches initiatives to fund operations and artifacts preservation
The Morse Museum and Cultural Centre has launched two new initiatives to assist the non-profit organization with the cost of preserving the area’s rich history.
Museum Curator John Griffin said the new Corporate Sponsors Plan and Adopt an Artifact program are the result of discussion at the organization’s year-end meeting in late 2023.
“We were trying to come up with new ways in order to help fund the museum’s operations and cover some of the costs of maintaining the facility,” he said. “The building was built in 1912 and being a century-year-old building, there’s some challenges that come with that. We determined from crunching numbers that it costs roughly $30,000 per year to operate the facility.”
The museum’s new Corporate Sponsor Plan was launched with a corporate donor’s gala held in the historic building, Feb. 3.
“It was the first time holding an event like this and it went very well,” he said. “We saw a couple of donations right then and there and other ones are seriously considering our proposed donations.”
He expressed appreciation towards everyone who contributed to the evening’s success and helped to launch this new initiative.
“I’d just like to thank all those who attended, all those who decided to donate and are considering donating,” he said. “We’re very appreciative of that. I’d also like to thank all the volunteers who helped make the event a success. And we look forward to working with everyone going forward.”
The museum has developed several donation packages to provide interested corporate donors with various options for level of sponsorship and benefits. The corporate donor’s program is aimed at both local area businesses and any other Saskatchewan business that want to contribute towards and appreciates the importance of preserving cultural heritage.
“The Morse Museum is important not only to the community of Morse, but to the province of Saskatchewan by preserving the history of the local area or province,” he said. “One of our stated goals as an organization is to preserve the history and the stories of people in the town of Morse and the province, as well as leave a legacy for future generations.”
The silver package is the program’s entry level with a donation amount between $250 to $499 per annum, which can be renewed yearly.
A company will receive recognition for its contribution in the museum entryway, on the museum website and social media pages, on the museum’s welcome slideshow and in other media campaigns. It will also receive an invitation and reminder about upcoming museum events.
The other two packages include all the benefits of the silver package as well as additional features. The gold package requires a three-year commitment with an annual donation between $500 to $999. A company will receive naming rights to a specific exhibit, project, program or temporary exhibit, a discount on facility rental, a private behind the scenes tour of the facility and a certificate of recognition.
The platinum package offers all the benefits of the previous two packages and some additional unique features. It requires a three-year commitment with an annual donation of $1,000 or more. A platinum sponsor will receive a token gift of appreciation and naming rights to a room or wing of the facility in lieu of naming rights to a specific exhibit.
The sponsorship packages are aimed at providing businesses of different sizes and budgets with the opportunity to support the museum.
“We wanted to keep the packages affordable,” he noted. “So we put a range in there for what works for their budget.”
The Morse Museum takes care of over 14,000 artifacts that vary from period furniture to historical documents and photographs as well as uniforms of those who served in different wars. The 10 rooms in the building features different exhibits, including agriculture, homesteading, town history and the history of laundry. There is a full classroom with school desks and historical maps, a Victorian era parlour and a 1950’s style kitchen and living room.
The museum decided to implement the new Adopt an Artifact program as a way to raise funds towards the cost of caring for the various items in its collection. “Certain artifacts require more care than others,” Griffin said. “Under this program it allows individuals and businesses to adopt or sponsor specific artifacts of their choosing from an established list of artifacts.”
The new Adopt an Artifact program replaces the museum’s previous membership program. The membership fee was previously $25 and under the new program a donation of $50 is required to adopt an artifact.
“So $25 of that will go towards being the membership for the individual or business and the other $25 goes to helping care for that artifact of their choice,” he explained.
The new program offers an opportunity to anyone with a family or other connection to an artifact to help the museum to take care of it. It is also a way to experience a direct benefit from a donation to the museum, because it will help to preserve a particular item.
“So in return for their donations, they still get their membership,” he said. “They also receive a tax receipt, as we can issue tax receipts. Same for the Corporate Sponsors Plan. We can issue tax receipts for that as well. They also receive a personalized thank you and a small information packet on their chosen artifact and they will also get recognition of their adoption with a card next to that artifact that they sponsor.”
For more information about the new Corporate Sponsors Plan and Adopt an Artifact program, contact the Morse Museum and Cultural Centre by calling 306-629-3230, sending an e-mail to morsemuseum@sasktel.net or visiting the museum website at www.morsemuseum.weebly.com