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Windsor Museum Feasibility Development Study: PHASE 1 REPORT PRESENTATION

Lord Cultural Resources

In association with

Architecturra

Windsor Museum Development Feasibility Study

• Objectives of the Feasibility Study and this Meeting

• Methodology to Date

• Planning Principles from Contextual and Market Analyses

• Key Findings and Recommendations:

• Concept and Site

• Collections and Facilities

• Visitor Experience

• Operations

• Next Steps

AGENDA


• Main objective to develop a plan that will increase likelihood

for implementation and sustainability of long-awaited new

Windsor Museum.

• Meeting intended to get feedback on key recommendations

before finalization of assumptions underlying financial

projections in next phase of study.

OBJECTIVES FOR FEASIBILITY STUDY AND MEETING


• Reviewed background information

• Facilitated Visioning/Assumptions Workshop with City

Officials and an Open House in November

• Conducted 46 additional interviews

• Analyzed experience of Canadian and US history museums

compared to other museum types

• Analyzed experience of existing main museums and related

institutions in Windsor and Essex County

• Analyzed existing and potential resident, school and tourist

markets

METHODOLOGY


• Analyzed current collections and operations of Windsor’s

Community Museum

• Toured potential sites and explored potential partnership

opportunities for the new Windsor Museum

• Developed recommendations associated with vision/concept

for the future Windsor Museum, as well as for site, facilities,

visitor experience and operations.

METHODOLOGY


• Control capital cost requirements in uncertain economic

times by limiting size of space and exploring partnership

opportunities

• Recognize need for enhanced visitor experience that will

lead to higher first time and repeat attendance and more

revenue generation

• Recognize that the stories of Windsor and Essex County need

not be limited to one facility and that there are existing

facilities and sites that already tell part of the story

• Control staffing levels and costs to contribute to ongoing

operational sustainability

KEY PLANNING PRINCIPLES


• So many stories to tell. Core stories told at Windsor Museum and visitors encouraged to “learn more” at other facilities and sites. For example:

o Existing Black history and transportation sites

o Other historic houses and community museums

o Prohibition story at Canadian Club Brand Centre

• Rationale recognizes need to limit size, capital and operating costs of Windsor Museum and strengthen existing facilities.

• Recommend maintaining Francois Baby House as one of the “spokes” but with interpretation limited to earlier period

STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS: HUB AND SPOKE CONCEPT


• Considered several sites. Two best sites evaluated in detail:

o Downtown – Ground Floor of Art Gallery of Windsor

o Sandwich Towne - Jail Site

• Used nine criteria to compare the two sites. Evaluation points to Ground Floor of Art Gallery of Windsor:

o Lower Capital Cost Requirements

o Synergy with Nearby Land Uses

o Consistency with Hub and Spoke Concept

STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS: SITE EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATION


• Historic Sandwich Towne Interpretive Centre as a new “spoke” for hub and spoke concept

o Tell the Sandwich Story in Sandwich

o Adaptive Re-Use of Space to create exhibition on history and importance of Sandwich

o Location on retail street to attract visitors and expose to commercial businesses

o Modest capital costs for exhibitions funded by City of Windsor and other funders

o Modest operating costs as part of budget of Olde Sandwich Towne BIA

STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS: RECOGNITION OF THE HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE OF SANDWICH


• Collection comprises some 4,700 3-dimensional objects, about 180 of which are now on display

• Museum’s Library and Archives includes some 5,000 photos and 500 maps plus books, ephemera, newsprint and other archival material

• Current display density is very high - indicative of need to tell very large story in very small space.

• A significant increase in permanent collection display space will be required.

STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS: COLLECTION DISPLAY


• 4,500 artifacts stored in 2,200 sq. ft. of basement of Francois Baby House. Storage areas slightly overfull.

• Existing collection requires about 2,700 sq. ft. of storage space

• The space plan will need to accommodate collection growth

• Recommend collection growth rate of about 100 artifacts per year to 2031.

• This yields a requirement for an additional 1,500 sq. ft. of collection storage space.

STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS: COLLECTION STORAGE


STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS: FACILITIES

Assumes City control of AGW building/site and recommends that Public Library on ground floor of the AGW be temporary to be replaced by the Windsor Museum. Rationale :

• Ground floor in AGW about 16,000 net sq. ft. Public Library needs some 40,000 net sq. ft., therefore an addition is required on City-owned land adjacent to AGW

• Construction costs for public libraries much lower than museum space

• AGW already museum quality space

• Opportunities for collaboration between AGW and Windsor Museum: space, charged admission, staffing, marketing, etc.

• Hub and spoke and retaining Francois Baby House as part of Windsor Museum limits space size/cost of Museum



Zone Area NSF

Percentage of Total Area

Zone A: Public

Non-

Collections 6,305

39%

Zone B: Public

Collections 5,515 34%

Zone C: Non-

Public

Collections 2,375

15%

Zone D: Non-

Public Non-

Collections 1,915

12%

Total NSF 16,110

100%

AGW Ground Floor: Museum Requirement



Total Museum Requirement: AGW Ground Floor plus Francois Baby House:

Zone

Area

NSF

Percentage of Total Area

Zone A 6,330 30%

Zone B 7,202 34%

Zone C 4,885 23%

Zone D 2,967 14% Total NSF

21,384 100%




STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS: VISITOR EXPERIENCE

Planning Principles

• Appeal to all ages; authentic; bring the community together;

creative and responsible use of technology; flexible and

adaptable; meaningful partnerships; multidisciplinary approach;

of interest to residents and tourists; meet curriculum needs;

relevancy

Exhibition Characteristics

• Accessible; dramatic; extend the experience; human element;

interactive; multisensory; orientation



Core Messages

• Windsor has a unique history and has occupied a pivotal place in

Canadian and North American history.

• Windsor’s position as a border city has had a strong influence on

its development.

• Windsor has long been a centre of diversity.



Exhibition Framework



Selected Potential Exhibits

• Multi-layered Windsor Timeline

• Explore to Learn More! Map of

Essex County

• Who's Your (Great-Great-Grand-)

Daddy?

• French Folk Dancing

• Assembly-Line Challenge

• Spot the Smuggler

• Artifact Displays



Selected Potential Exhibits

• Fur Trade Game

• On, Over, and Under the River!

• First Ford Photo Opportunity

• Science-Based Exhibits

• Future of Industrial Windsor

• Border City Stories

• Neighbourhood “Morphing”



• Children’s Gallery to attract families,

classes, daycares, camps

• Larger Temporary Exhibition Gallery

to expand offerings

• Expand Public and Educational

Programming to reach a wider

audience

• Build on and increase Community

Outreach

• Enhance Virtual Presence


• Separate governance from Art Gallery of Windsor but

collaborative opportunities

• Limited staff growth from 5.5 to 9.5 FTE, including shared

staff with AGW

• Introduction of admission charges and memberships

• Shared retail and joint marketing with AGW

• Linked web sites with spokes as part of hub and spoke

concept

• TBD whether Windsor Museum remains Windsor’s

Community Museum or becomes Windsor-Essex Museum

STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS: OPERATIONS


• Feedback

• Finalized Assumptions

• Capital Costs Estimate

• Attendance, Operating Revenue and Expense Projections

• Phase 2 Report

• Final Report Presentation to Council

NEXT STEPS IN FEASIBILITY STUDY


Questions and Discussion

For written comments please email:

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]







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Windsor Museum Feasibility Development Study: … Feasibility... · Windsor Museum Feasibility Development Study: PHASE 1 REPORT PRESENTATION Lord Cultural Resources ... • Linked