Gallery changes financial fortune with fiscal restraint in year-end report
By Timothy Schafer
What a difference a year makes.
A little bit of belt tightening has brought the Grand Forks Art Gallery well in under budget for the end of its fiscal year, a marked difference from one year ago.
Grand Forks Art Gallery Society executive director Terry Woodruff told Grand Forks city council at its April 10 committee-of-the-whole meeting that it has come in $17,000 below what it budgeted for the 2016-2017 season — ending at $285,000 (budgeted $302,000) — which ended March 31.
One year ago the gallery struggled with skyrocketing costs and was put in the position in the end with a $70,000 shortfall on its expenses, coming in at $405,000.
The gallery reduced its expenses significantly over the last year, Woodruff explained, sticking within the budget it had drawn up and “living within its means.
“It was a huge effort, I would have to say, by the entire staff,” as well as the society’s board, she said. “We really needed to pull in the expenses (unlike last year) but we also needed to give a full year of exhibitions.”
The gallery was able to pull in a few more grants to help pay for some of the expenses, she said, and there was a slight increase to the B.C. Gaming grant it received.
Coun. Julia Butler asked if Woodruff and the gallery had any word on filling her soon-to-be-vacant position of executive director. Woodruff had announced late last year she would be retiring.
As well, the curator, Ted Fogg, retires in March but shows are booked in advance for the coming year so the gallery’s schedule is covered, she said. The gallery is mandated by the B.C. Arts Council to have a curator on staff, and that exhibitions are in place.
If not, the lack of a curator affects the arts council funding, moving funding approval from the current three-year cycle to year-to-year.
Woodruff said the posting closed earlier in the month for the new position, and she would be staying on in a training position.
Woodruff said a brand new B.C. Arts Council three-year grant — in the range of $15,000 to $30,000 annually — for Capacity and Sustainability building could give the gallery some “bridging” and help the new person who moves in to take the helm of the gallery.
The gallery was successful in its grant application, meaning it could get professional help to take it through a strategic planning cycle and succession planning, said Woodruff.
The new gallery top position will combine both current curator and executive director duties, she said, and the gallery’s new budget is based on that one position.
In 2015-16 the gallery paid out $240,000 for salaries, the same this year and next year it will only be paying $204,000, reducing its top-end salaries with the retirements.
“Capacity funding will help us bridge that,” Woodruff said. “We’ve got a lot of support for a new person but you want to get the right person in that role.”
The extra money will go to good use. Woodruff said the gallery would put the funds over to programming, education and outreach.
“We want to expand those types of programs,” she said.
She said the factors affecting the increase in income include the gallery’s fundraising efforts, with the new summer Taps and Tapas event exceeding expectations — raising $25,022.20 over the expected $15,000.
Coun. Beverley Tripp asked Woodruff how the gallery planned to get its fundraising amounts increased.
Would it be “through the same events or would you be planning something new?” she said.
Woodruff said the gallery would expand Taps and Tapas, possibly add a “wine-ology” course and focus on Canada’s 150 anniversary throughout the year.
The gallery’s gift shop net revenue was higher at just over $17,000, while the budgeted net revenue target was $7,000.
The gallery’s budget reflected a change to the purchasing practices, including a shift to focus on regional artisans and increase commission items versus purchased items.
“We continue to keep staffing levels/hours at reduced levels to maintain our budget goals,” Woodruff said in her report.