The Textile Museum of Canada will temporarily close on Sunday, Feb. 16, due to an “unexpected” shortfall in its finances.
Urmi Desai, the museum’s board chair, shared the news in a press release on Tuesday.
“The Museum has been faced with the significant challenge of regaining and expanding our audiences following the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns,” Desai said in the press release. “In response, over two years ago, the Museum launched an ambitious expansion of our exhibition programming and fundraising to attract new audiences. Unfortunately, changes in audience behaviours and funding priorities have resulted in an unexpected shortfall in our finances, resulting in operating constraints.”
Desai said that the museum is also in need of “urgent repairs,” including to the building elevator, which she described as “no longer safe.” Together, Desai said this forced the board to “reduce our public-facing staff numbers and streamline our operations during this time.”
In a call with the Star, Desai said the board’s goal is to reopen by September, in time for the museum’s 50th anniversary.
“The environment for culture and the arts in Toronto and in Canada is not changing,” Desai said, citing the increasing dangers of economic uncertainty. “We know that arts institutions across Toronto and Canada have been struggling for the last several years at a time when government spending on arts is not increasing.”
“But we have a plan to streamline our operations and focus on securing sustainable funding.”
The Textile Museum describes itself as the only institution in Canada dedicated solely to textile arts. It opened in 1975 as the Canadian Museum of Carpets and Textiles at a modest location in Mirvish Village. In 1989, the museum moved to its current 24,000 square-foot location at 55 Centre Ave. in downtown Toronto.
Following the closure on Feb. 16, the museum’s website will continue to provide access to its textile collection, and will post new online content and operational updates. On-site tours and collection visits will also be available by appointment only.
“We’re one of the largest fully digital digitized collections online in Canada,” said Desi. “Explore the website, share it with friends, talk about it, and keep apprised of new updates.”
“We are running our plan and we really do hope to see you all in the fall.”
