The Mann Art Gallery in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, has announced significant operational changes to address mounting financial pressures. Effective January 1, 2026, the gallery will reduce its public opening hours to only three days per week—Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The decision comes after careful analysis of visitor patterns and a comprehensive review of the organization's budget challenges. Administrative Director Carolyn Carleton explained that the restructuring will allow the gallery to better allocate its limited resources while maintaining core services for the community. The new schedule represents a strategic shift toward sustainability in an increasingly difficult funding environment for regional arts institutions.
Carleton emphasized that the decision was data-driven, noting that visitor traffic consistently peaked during the latter part of the week. "So, we were like why don't we just funnel our public hours into those three days and we can really focus on the customers coming into our gift shop or people coming in to visit the gallery," she said. By concentrating public access on these high-traffic days, staff can dedicate the remaining weekdays to essential administrative tasks, permanent collection management, and behind-the-scenes operations that are critical to the gallery's mission. This approach aims to maximize efficiency while preserving the quality of visitor experience during open hours. The gallery's leadership believes this focused strategy will better serve both patrons and the institution's long-term health.
The financial challenges stem primarily from operational costs rather than programming expenses. While the gallery receives grant funding that adequately covers exhibitions, permanent collections, and educational programming, these funds cannot be used for day-to-day operational expenses such as salaries and utilities. The City of Prince Albert has provided an annual contribution of $100,000 since 2019, but this amount has remained stagnant despite rising costs. During the most recent budget negotiations, the gallery requested an increase to between $135,000 and $160,000, but the city denied the request, leaving funding at status quo levels. This funding gap has created an unsustainable situation for the small organization.
Staffing limitations further compound the financial strain. The gallery operates without any full-time employees, relying instead on a mix of three-quarter-time, part-time, and as-needed staff members. Carleton confirmed that this lean staffing model requires careful coordination to fulfill all operational requirements. "So we're doing what we can to operate with the staff we have in order to fulfill everything we need to do," she noted. This approach reflects broader trends in the nonprofit arts sector, where organizations must accomplish more with fewer resources. The reduced hours will help prevent staff burnout while ensuring that essential functions continue without interruption.
In response to these challenges, the Mann Art Gallery is intensifying its fundraising and sponsorship efforts to build long-term financial stability. The organization plans to launch targeted campaigns in the coming months to engage individual donors, local businesses, and community partners. These initiatives will include event sponsorships, enhanced donor cultivation, and specific appeals to support exhibitions, educational programs, collections care, and daily operations. "As a charitable organization, we rely on a combination of public funding, earned revenue, and the generosity of our supporters," Carleton added, emphasizing that community support is vital to sustaining the gallery as a cultural resource for Prince Albert and the surrounding region.
The new public hours reflect a pragmatic approach to cultural stewardship in challenging economic times. Beginning January 1, 2026, the gallery will be open Thursday and Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Saturday from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM, remaining closed Sunday through Wednesday. This schedule will remain under review as the gallery monitors its financial position and community response. Leaders remain hopeful that increased community engagement and successful fundraising will eventually allow for expanded hours. For now, the focus remains on delivering high-quality programming within sustainable parameters while building a stronger foundation for the future.
