Medalta's executive director told public service committee members Tuesday during a 2023 financial report presentation that the organization is struggling with finances.--NEWS PHOTO BRENDAN MILLER
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
Medalta staff and board members say they are facing a tremendously difficult challenge as they shift their efforts toward “austerely financial” decisions to continue its operation next year.
Public services committee members were presented a 10-month-old financial report from the executive director with Medalta that covered key statistics from the society while highlighting issues and successes, as well as pointing toward new programming that will be offered in 2025.
However, Mike Onieu was clear during his presentation that the organization is facing difficulties, highlighting program cuts and staffing turnover.
“I don’t think you’ll find an organization in the city that is more efficient with the use of dollars,” said Onieu. “I wish we didn’t have to operate like that, be we do.”
Onieu stated the Market at Medalta events were not very well attended this year and while the society plans to continue hosting the market style events, they will likely be less frequent. The society has also decided to cancel its annual Black and White Gala. It will be replaced with a different event planned next February.
Medalta also changed its membership policies that once provided a 15 per cent discount on gifts.
Onieu told committee members the society has become dependent on the success of ceramic supplier Plainsman Clays, which expanded operations in April with the purchase of a second building to facilitate increased clay production.
“We are very fortunate to have a social enterprise in the form of Plainsman Clays, which is probably saving our lives,” said Onieu. “If we didn’t have Plainsman Clays I’m not sure if we would still be operating today.”
Vandalism alone has cost the society upwards of $30,000 so far in 2024, Onieu says. On Monday Onieu said he filed a police report for $10,000 worth of damage at the I-XL site.
“I don’t have the financial means to prevent this, I can’t secure my borders, using old army terminology,” explained Onieu. “I just always like to raise that as a concern, that we have vandalism down in our corner of the world that is really out of control.”
However, Onieu says the society was able to significantly increase the number of events it was able to host in 2023 that ranged from whiskey tasting dinners to dance lessons and musical festivals held in the historic kilns.
As well, the society was visited by 119 contemporary ceramic artists in 2023.
“That’s an important figure, because most of those people, almost all of those people, come from outside (Medicine Hat), so we’re always very pleased when we can bring people here, some are international.”
Other key takeaways from 2023 include an attendance of more than 11,400 people during community events, more than 4,200 visitors to the museum and close to 2,400 youth participating in educational programming.
The society was also able to complete a five-year strategic plan that includes six goals to expand the Heritage Clay District.
Next year the society will also be introducing a new archeology program under the guidance of Dr. Talbot Jacobson, who has been involved with the society previously and will be running a field archeology school.
The importance of local tourism and volunteer opportunities were also stressed during the presentation and Medalta’s local importance to tourism was emphasized.
