Bigfork art museum funding falls short

The year can be looked at in one of two ways for the Bigfork Art and History Museum — as a year of struggle or as a year for change.

After the museum’s entire board of directors resigned in August 2011 citing financial concerns, director of the museum Marnie Forbis was forced to start from scratch.

A new board of directors was built. It contained some members who had served on the board in past years and some members who were brand new to the museum game.

One of those new members, Raymond Dominick, was elected treasurer of the board. Although as of September, he no longer serves on the board, he originally joined because it felt like the right thing to do.

“I thought it was an important part of the community and that it should still be around,” Dominick said.

Along with the new board came a year that saw a drop in dollars raised during fundraisers and an increase in gallery attendance, membership and sales.

Dominick has financial concerns about the museum similar to the ones held by the previous board of directors. Dominick said his reasoning stems from the fact that one-third to half of the museum’s revenue comes from fundraising and two of BMAH’s major fundraisers weren’t as successful as they have been in the past.

The annual Spring Auction raised $7,642 this year, compared to the $10,772 it raised in 2011. Even more concerning to Dominick was the Saddle-up and Paint fundraiser, which raised $135 this year because they had to cancel the dinner due to a low number of ticket sales. Last year, Saddle-up and Paint raised $8,222.

But, Forbis said the fundraising slow down is part-and-parcel of how the museum has fluctuated for the last 14 years she’s been the director.

“I think every fundraiser has its day,” Forbis said. “I think it’s the nature of the beast.”

She sees the museum as better off now than it has been in the past. Forbis said the fact that the museum made it through the worst part of the economic slowdown speaks volumes about the state of the museum and community support for it.

“I’m less worried than I ever was when I started,” Forbis said. “When I first started here, I was worried about how I was going to keep the doors open the next day. Now I don’t have that worry.”

She said the museum has always operated with an extremely tight budget. Even though revenue might be down, it doesn’t necessarily mean they can’t close the gap by the end of the year.

Forbis said the bright side of the year shows in the extra 1,100 visitors, $318 more in membership dues and $2,200 more in sales from the gift shop and gallery the museum has had so far this year over last.

Currently the museum sits at around $9,000 less in revenue then it had last year. And with annual revenues and expeditures around $70,000 a year, that much less revenue can make a big difference. As of mid-October, the museum was operating at around $5,400 in the red. Last year, BMAH closed the year with $230 in the red.

Dominick forecasts a bleak future for the museum unless some major changes take place in the way the museum operates and does its fundraising.

“What I do care about is that the museum has a future and is financially solvent,” Dominick said.

A couple of the changes Dominick sees a need for are already taking place at the museum — increasing the number of fundraisers and keeping the museum open in January and February.

Board member Gordon Graham said the board is trying to become more creative with fundraisers and what art shows they choose to bring into the gallery. Graham has served on the board of directors in the past and came back this year to support the museum as a board member once again. He said the board is taking steps in the right direction.

“I am more confident now than I have ever been about this board,” Graham said. “And about the future of this museum.”

On Oct. 25, the museum hosted a brand new fundraiser called Meatballs for the Museum, which raised almost $2,000. BMAH is currently fundraising by selling $50 tickets to raffle off a five-course Italian dinner for eight by Derek Vandeberg.

Forbis said the two fundraisers should put the museum close to making up the difference in revenue from last year.

The museum is counting on generating more in membership dues by changing up their membership structure for next year. There will be more pricing options, from student to family memberships, for people who want to join.

In January the gallery will host a Flathead Community College art show and in February will put on a Valentine-themed show.

The next big fundraiser for the museum is the Festival of Trees, which runs from Nov. 17-29 and culminates with a champagne gala at 5:50 p.m. on Nov. 29. The trees, wreaths, ornaments and centerpieces on display during the two weeks preceeding the gala will be raffled and auctioned off during the gala.