Funding cuts put pinch on O’Keefe Ranch

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 05, 2009 12:00 PM

Groups dedicated to preserving North Okanagan history are facing historic funding cuts.O’Keefe Ranch fears access to provincial money will be significantly chopped, making it even more difficult for the cash-strapped historic site to operate.“We have four months (of the year) to go and this is not our busy time. We still have to pay the bills,” said Catherine Lord, manager. O’Keefe Ranch had applied for $19,000 in gaming funds, but that could be cut by 11 per

On top of this, the $60,000 anticipated from the B.C. Arts Council will likely be reduced in 2010.“I believe it could be down 15 to 20 per cent and that’s what I will budget for,” said Lord. Such reductions could impact operations, and Lord hopes special events can fill the void.“We have to get more local people through the door because we have to make up that money,” she said. One option is not to ask the ranch’s owner, the City of Vernon, for more assistance.“The support from the city has been tremendous,” said Lord, adding that the city provided $192,000 in operating funds this year.

But O’Keefe Ranch isn’t the only agency experiencing difficulties.The Greater Vernon Museum has been notified that it will not receive a gaming grant this year.“It’s very disappointing,” said Alice Lee, with the Friends of the Vernon Museum, which raises funds for the facility.A gaming application had been made for $63,000 for moveable storage shelving and two microfilm machines so people can view archived newspapers. “People are coming in all of the time and looking at data,” said Lee.Without the grant, the purchases will be scrapped, although shelving was deemed a priority.“We’re crowded and trying to make do with the space we have,” said Ron Candy, museum curator.“History doesn’t stop so we can’t stop collecting artifacts.”

The Armstrong-Spallumcheen Museum and Arts Gallery Society is waiting to see if it is impacted by a change in government policy.“We all struggle to keep our organizations afloat because we believe in their value, in and of itself, and their value to the public.,” said Peter Critchley, society president, in a letter to the government.“It is shortsighted to cut funding to the arts. Art and history is vital to the human experience and to our society.”