Canadian Heritage committee  Yes. I think that when it comes to tourism, any help is going to be appreciated. When it comes to marketing museums, it's a tough sell, because people have so many other things to do. If there is a way the government can help, I think it would come through.... To tell you the

Canadian Heritage committee  The United Kingdom, I think. Again, I've had a lot of experience in that country. The support for museums is very strong. I think the reason is that there's a recognition in the population base that heritage is part of everyone's everyday life. This is very important. It's not ju

Canadian Heritage committee  There are so many organizations. I have to say that I'd single out organizations such as the National Trust, English Heritage, and the Scottish Heritage organization. These are wonderful organizations that probably boast somewhere in the range of a quarter of the population as th

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes. Planting a museum in Toronto of this nature means that suddenly the Islamic art world starts looking to Canada and our name recognition abroad is actually very strong. But I think most important of all it reflects one of the fastest growing populations in this country and i

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes, I think the story you've mentioned is very important. When it came to placing this museum anywhere in the world, His Highness the Aga Khan chose Canada. I think this is very important, because when it comes to the mission and mandate of this museum, we're here to explore div

Canadian Heritage committee  Correct. Right now we receive about $5 million a year from the Aga Khan Development Network. That's through the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. That is their contribution to the museum, but that is a declining amount. Right now that's $5 million out of an operating budget of $16.5 m

Canadian Heritage committee  Correct. For the entire development of the Wynford Drive site, where the museum, the Aga Khan Park, and the Ismaili Centre exist, that was all capital that was contributed by the Aga Khan. That is a major gift to this country.

Canadian Heritage committee  Exactly. I think that exhibition in pluralism is very much at the heart of what we as a museum stand for. When it came to the Syrian crisis, we all remember what happened at the end of 2015 moving into 2016 with the influx of Syrian refugees into this country. I think it was a v

Canadian Heritage committee  There's absolutely no question that temporary exhibitions do help drive visitation. From our point of view as a museum, the renewal of our temporary exhibitions three or four times a year is crucial for renewing people's interest. That is part of what we do. At the same time, I

Canadian Heritage committee  I think that's one of the—

Canadian Heritage committee  Exactly. I'd say that you have to look at the longer-term basis. I think that the current program itself needs some very significant rework because times have changed. When you look at these smaller museums, they require different sorts of funding opportunities. Of course, you're

Canadian Heritage committee  Absolutely. I have to say it's something that, as a museum, we've tracked over the years and have been very excited by the prospect that it may actually happen. It hasn't happened at this point. It's been primarily focused towards performing arts organizations, which, again, is w

Canadian Heritage committee  From my point of view, it's hard for me to say, because I have very little data to talk about. I will say that when it comes to getting visitors through the door, good programming will always be the starting point. If you come up with a great idea, people do come. That, I think,

Canadian Heritage committee  I certainly agree with the point that tourism is the icing on the cake. For us, the majority of our visitors are people who live within the GTA. Tourism helps, but I certainly wouldn't call it the driving force for us. I think that's one thing that does separate a lot of the sm

Canadian Heritage committee  As a museum, I have 60 staff. I have over 400 volunteers. I think that's what you'll find as typical of most museums.