News

Chandler, March 26, 2025 – The recently unveiled provincial budget delivers a severe blow to the museum sector, particularly for regional institutions like ours. While museums play a vital role in the cultural and economic vitality of Quebec, no significant support has been allocated to address the growing challenges they face.

Refusal to act

The government has ignored realistic, data-backed proposals that would have enabled many regional institutions to maintain their operations. Furthermore, the funding envelope for the Program to Support the Operation of Museum Institutions (PAFIM) remains unchanged, despite the yearly addition of new institutions. As a result, museums are forced to divide an ever-shrinking slice of the pie, pushing them further into precariousness.

Institutions in Peril

Chronic underfunding in the museum sector threatens the core mission of preserving, sharing, and showcasing heritage. The impacts are already being felt: reduced opening hours, job cuts, fewer educational activities, and in some cases, temporary or permanent closures of institutions. This situation is especially alarming in the regions, where museums play a key role in cultural and tourism development, generating direct economic benefits.

Regional museums face even greater challenges:

• Higher operating costs
• Smaller local audiences
• Limited accessibility
• Lack of specialized professional resources

Urgency to Act

FaIn the face of this critical situation, we are calling on the government to take immediate action to ensure the sustainability of regional museums. Two urgent priorities must be implemented without delay:

1. An immediate revision of the PAFIM eligibility criteria to better reflect the specific realities of regional institutions and ensure a more equitable distribution of resources.
2. The allocation of emergency financial support to prevent further imminent closures and to ensure that our museums can continue to fulfill their mission.

Museums are far more than exhibition spaces — they are guardians of our history, spaces for the transmission of knowledge, and key economic players in our communities. Leaving these institutions without adequate resources is to put our collective identity at risk.

We urge the government to recognize the urgency of the situation and to act swiftly to prevent an irreversible weakening of our cultural fabric.