The federal funding reductions announced on Monday include measures that cut deeply into a program for small community museums and heritage institutions across Canada.

In a move that blindsided the Canadian Museums Association, the Conservative government cut $4.6 million from its museums assistance program over the next two years.

"One of the things that is very irresponsible is the implication that funding museums is not justified, or wasteful," said John McAvity, executive director of the CMA.

"This kind of funding is one of the hallmarks of a civilized society."

The program aids small museums with projects such as preserving their collections, allowing exhibits to tour and creating websites.

In 2004-2005, it funded projects ranging from the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation oral history project in the Yukon, to drawings of the Group of Seven exhibit at the McMichael Gallery in Ontario and the conservation of artifacts at the Crowsnest Historical Society in Alberta.

Heritage Minister Bev Oda's office said the program provides $11.8 million in funding annually and was cut as part of the review process seeking to provide "value for money to Canadians."

The cuts will not hurt Canada's large national museums, which are funded under a different program, McAvity said.

But small museums across the country will be left competing for a much smaller pot of money as a result of the cuts, he said.

"This program has been inadequate — funding is at the same level as in 1972," McAvity said. "Now it's even more inadequate."

No warning or consultation

The reduction in funding was made without warning and without consultation with museums or the museums association, he said.

And it is especially puzzling as it comes on the heels of a report by the standing committee of Canadian heritage to the House of Commons that recommends increased stable funding to museums.

"We had a commitment from the Conservative government that said museums were a priority and that they would be making new investments in the sector," he said.

The previous Liberal government had recommended a new museums policy that would have provided $75 million annually in stable funding to the sector. That legislation died with the Liberal government.

The Conservative-led standing committee last week recommended adopting many of the same principles in its new museum policy, including stable multi-year funding.

Small museums across Canada have important collections that preserve and record local history and culture, but many don't meet minimum requirements for conservation because they are so poorly funded, McAvity said.

"Museums are important economically, socially and culturally to communities across Canada," he said.

The CMA is scheduled to appear before the finance committee Tuesday and intends to express its opposition to the cuts, he said.

More possible problems

Further cuts that might affect the cultural sector have yet to be outlined. For example, cuts of more than $55 million to youth employment programs could affect cultural institutions that rely on young workers during the summer.

"Cultural institutions, from festivals, to museums to galleries, across the country take advantage of youth employment programs each and every year in order to fill staff vacancies," said Heather Redfern, executive director of the Greater Vancouver Alliance for Arts and Culture

Another cut that concerns arts groups is the $11.9 million from the public diplomacy bureau of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. This bureau funds cultural exchanges overseas, but the government has not said where exactly the cuts will be made.

"Investments from this department assist Canadian companies on international tours and also bring foreign buyers of cultural products to Canadian events," Redfern said.