Montreal: Struggling under $579,000 of debt, the internationally respected Cinematheque Quebecois is resorting to drastic financial measures. It’s cutting spending by 10%, with its 50 employees taking 20% pay cuts. While the popular Mediatheque room will be open this summer, screenings will be halted from May 15 until September to reallocate human resources.

‘From our $4-million annual operating budget, fixed costs are 85%. Of that, salaries are 59%,’ says Robert Boivin, director general of the Cinematheque since October. ‘We get sporadic money from the provincial government, but it’s insufficient. We need 25% more, at least, because there’s no commercial, revenue-making aspect to our operation, except renting rooms for functions. Our mandate is education and preservation.’

The 69,000-square-foot Cinematheque, with storage facilities offsite, houses over 50,000 various items, 25,000 videos, 2,000 screenplays and 300,000 still photos. It archives everything from old cameras and film posters to scenery and costumes. Conceived in 1963, the Cinematheque bought a school building it was renting in 1996 and completed a $17-million renovation the following year. International scholars and filmmakers rely on the Cinematheque for research.

‘The government understands that we need a permanent solution,’ says Boivin. ‘Without it, the films will vanish. For this year, we’ll cut salaries and work with a joint committee to develop income through a fundraising foundation. Meanwhile, we’re in talks with the provincial government to raise our subsidy.’

-www.cinematheque.qc.ca