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THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2017 • WATERLOO CHRONICLE • 15 Stay Current... From the latest information on local poltics, to minor sports scores to what's going on down the street, visit www.waterloochronicle.ca CONNECTED TO YOUR COMMUNITY ARTS FOCUS WATERLOO CHRONICLE ARTS FOCUS WATERLOO CHRONICLE By Samantha Beattie Chronicle Sta� When it comes to culture, Waterloo Region's key institutions are on the right track despite � nancial constraints. "Municipal investment in key cultural institu- tions recognizes the intrinsic value in arts and culture and provides stability and the ability to access grants, share works and collections and build a greater audience," said Lucille Bish, the region's cultural services director. She and four of these institutions -- � eMu- seum, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, � e Clay and Glass Gallery and Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery -- gave an update of their operations at an all council meeting Dec. 20. In 2016, the region's municipalities invested $1.9 million into key cultural institutions, which are characterized by having operating revenues larger than $1 million and contributing to the economic prosperity of the region. � is year, the institutions themselves earned more than $6 million in private sector revenue and offered 268 cultural experiences -- almost one each day. To address deficits and stay on budget, the institutions have had to make reductions in sta� and sta� salaries, which negatively impacted their e� ectiveness and ability to attract and retain tal- ent, said Bish. Nonetheless they're recognized regionally, nationally and internationally, and demonstrate leadership in the community. "We found all key cultural institutions need municipal and other investments in order to maintain quality of programs, improve physical space and diversify programming," Bish said. "� ere's a need to raise the pro� le of how or to what extent institutions contribute to the com- munity, and to share good news stories when there's investments in our cultural organiza- tions." � eMuseum TheMuseum surpassed the 90,000 visitor mark in 2016. Popular exhibits like QUANTUM, Nature Unleashed and Terry Fox -- Running to the Heart of Canada have drawn people of all ages, said CEO David Marskell. "We continue to inch towards sustainability," Marskell said. "It's tough. We have to generate 70 per cent of our revenues every year." � eMuseum has been on a de� cit reduction plan for the last three years. For 2017, TheMuseum plans to celebrate Canada's 150th anniversary with an exhibition exploring indigenous heritage. "An artist will be looking at how things have been for the aboriginal community in the last 150 years," Marskell said. TheMuseum is also creating its own exhibit Step Right Up! It will be about the history of Cana- dian midways and carnivals. K-W Symphony Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony is one of the top three orchestras in Ontario. "We are increasingly recognized as such and that makes the job of justifying our existence and attracting talent so much easier," said Executive Director Andrew Bennett. Like the museum, more than 90,000 people attend the symphony's performances each year. It also has � ve youth orchestras, with 162 young people learning about music. "We made a signi� cant surplus last year and are really seriously moving down the accumulat- ed de� cit, but it is still not what it should be," said Bennett. "We have a very long road ahead of us." In February the symphony will launch its next season featuring "enticing repertoire," Bennett said, adding longtime music director Edwin Out- water will be departing, with a grand � nale per- formance May 27. � e Clay and Glass Gallery The Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery is the only art museum in Canada specifically dedi- cated to ceramic and glass art. As such, it's a des- tination for tourists from across the country and around the world, said Executive Director Bill Poole. It features exhibits by prestigious artists, a hands-on clay program for children, and "a won- derful gallery shop supporting the work of about 150 artists at any given time," said Poole. Recent successes include achieving � ve oper- ating surpluses in the last six years and almost squaring o� its accumulated de� cit, despite being the only key cultural institution supported by a single municipality -- Waterloo. � e municipal support it receives is below the provincial average, Poole said. In the new year, the gallery will continue its $1.25 million renovations and get a new roof, HVAC system and gallery windows. One day it will need more space for community program- ming and its collection. Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2016 and raised more than $175,000 in support of the gallery, which will help ease its de� cit. "We have reduced staff numbers and exhi- bitions and increased revenue," said executive director Shirley Madill. "� e challenge is we can't reduce anymore or we will actually jeopardize other sources of fund- ing." � e gallery now o� ers tours in nine languages and is working to enhance the experience for the visually impaired. "We focus on cultural diversity," said Madill, pointing to its group exhibition featuring young indigenous artists. "We are the oldest and largest public art gallery in Waterloo Region." The gallery's collection has 4,000 pieces of art worth $30 million, including more than 100 pieces by Canadian photographer Edward Bur- tynsky. It has programming for everyone includ- ing school groups, kids and families, retirees and teenagers. For 2017, the gallery plans to explore topics of nation and nationhood, colonization and cultural diversity through educational and public pro- gramming. Cultural checkup Local cultural institutions making headway � nancially while still drawing audiences The Clay and Glass Gallery was one of the local cultural institutions that presented an update of its operations at an all council meeting Dec. 20. FILE PHOTO