Fashion History Museum in Cambridge at risk of closing

A local museum dedicated to fashion through the ages may have to hang their clothes somewhere else.

The Fashion History Museum has been in its current location in Cambridge, near Hespeler Village, for the last 10 years but soon may be looking to move. They have run a large deficit of about $54,000 and need the city’s help to pay it down.

“The city bought the building in 2020 from a private owner and since then the rent has continued to be charged. During COVID we managed for a couple years because there were the rent subsidies from the federal government so that was fine but it kind of came to a head last year,” said one of the co-founders, Jonathan Walford, during an interview on the Mike Farwell Show.

During a Cambridge council meeting for the 2024 budget on Feb. 6, Walford and others from the museum presented the current financial situation.

“We bring about a million dollars a year into the region from people who come to visit 40 km outside the parameter,” said Walford.

They met with Cambridge councillors in Feb. 2023, but no deadline was set and the museum had to stop paying rent to the city but did keep up with the cost of utilities, maintenance and insurance.

Walford says in 2020, the city started making cuts to the grant for the Fashion History Museum, which forced them to use Federal grants for rent subsidies during the pandemic.

After learning about the museum’s current deficit, the Ontario Trillium Foundation pulled its funding, which meant the loss of some staff members in the coming years.

Walford told councillors during budget talks that the cost of utilities, maintenance and insurance has risen dramatically. Walford also mentioned to councillors that the value of the building has doubled since the city purchased it.

“I’m a little worried that they don’t quite understand the value we have,” said Walford.

Walford added their figures show they bring in about a million dollars a year to the local economy, mainly in tourism.

One of the things they are asking the city for in the meeting on April 3, is to reduce rent to about $1 a year. Walford says most not-for-profit museums don’t pay rent to the municipalities they are located in.

They are also asking the city to forgive the debt they have added up in unpaid rent which is more than $46,000. Additionally, they want financial support for maintenance, insurance, and utilities of about $35,000 a year.

With the closure of the K-W Symphony last year, Walford said they are worried the Fashion History Museum will be the next cultural company on the chopping block.