NOTE
This alert originated with the Canadian Museums Association.
The Exhibition Transport Service (ETS) is important to artists because it is the manner in which galleries ship artworks safely across Canada – the loss of the ETS will mean fewer, more costly travelling exhibitions – that means fewer opportunities for artists to have their work seen, and to see the work of others.
CARFAC urges artists to write to express their concern over the loss of the program – and to express their support for the work of museums and galleries to keep the ETS in operation
Template e-mail/letters are available here:
ETS template letters MS Word (DOC)
Please remember to send copies to CMA and to CARFAC
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Take Action – Save ETS
Ottawa, October 22, 2007 — The Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) has announced its intention to discontinue the Exhibit Transportation Services (ETS) on April 1, 2008.
Together with the Canadian Art Museum Directors’ Organization (CAMDO), the CMA is working to maintain ETS and ensure that the Minister of Heritage and members of Parliament are aware of the major impact the elimination of ETS will have on museums and art galleries and on Canadians’ access to new exhibits.
The CMA has written to the new Minister and expects to meet with her very soon. CMA is also raising this issue with CCI directly, with the Department of Canadian Heritage, and others in an effort to find a solution. CAMDO has developed an information brief on ETS which is available at www.camdo.ca/en/ETS.html
Your direct support will help save ETS
If you share the concern about the elimination of ETS, we urge you to write to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and to your local member of Parliament. A draft letter is available for your use — be sure to put it on your letterhead. It includes the Minister’s address.
• You can also fax your letter to the Minister at: 819-994-1267
• For your MP’s address, enter your postal code here: www.parl.gc.ca/common/index.asp
• Please also send a copy of your letter to: info@museums.ca
About ETS
Created in the late 1970s, ETS is a federal government program — administered by the Canadian Conservation Institute – which provides shipping services exclusively to public art galleries and museums across Canada. The service provides climate-controlled vehicles and trained drivers who act as the “art handlers” at pick-up and delivery points. It came into existence because of the specialized requirements for art and cultural objects when shipped across the nation. The works must be preserved in an environmentally-sound and secure truck, and managed by an art handler who is cognizant of the specific physical and security risks to fragile cultural objects. ETS is cost-effective, professionally sanctioned and reliable. Over 54% of all art transportation between museums in Canada is conducted by ETS, compared to 28% for all other fine-art carriers combined. In some isolated regions, ETS is the only fine-art carrier available, as others refuse to service outlining regions where the profit-margin is slim. For instance, in the Atlantic provinces, over 65% of exhibitions are delivered by ETS.
For further information:
Monique Horth
Deputy Director
Canadian Museums Association
613-567-0099 x225
mhorth@museums.ca
Shawn Van Sluys Executive Director/Directeur général Canadian Art Museum Directors’ Organization (CAMDO) Organisation des directeurs des musées d’art du Canada (ODMAC) Tel/Tél : 613.862.5035 shawn.vansluys@camdo.ca