A change in the way Albury's art gallery is managed should boost donations and see its future guaranteed.
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That's the view of councillor Henk van de Ven, who has supported a plan have MAMA no longer under the direct control of Albury Council but governed by a company structure.
"Not being an Albury City entity as such will probably, or hopefully, provide a greater incentive if you like for people to make those donations which will guarantee the future of MAMA in terms of the exhibits and other items that are available for people to look at in that facility," Cr van de Ven said.
A consultant engaged by Albury Council to assess the future administration of the gallery determined that having a company limited by guarantee govern MAMA would bolster philanthropic support.
Brisbane-based Positive Solutions noted that because the council could not register itself as a charity there had been a MAMA foundation established to take donations.
"However, while this provides an eligible route for receiving donations it does not always resolve the perception of prospective donors that they are 'giving money to government' nor the concern that the donations they make may be diverted to purposes other than the benefit of the gallery," the consultancy wrote in its report to council.
In an agenda item to council recommending the shift in management, MAMA director Bree Pickering wrote changing the administrative model would increase "capacity for earned and contributed revenue from commercial operations and through private funding from philanthropists, sponsors, and independent and government funding bodies".
"It is expected that this will increase AlburyCity's return on investment in terms of increasing both access to art and culture for our community, and economic impact through tourism," Ms Pickering advised councillors.
The council this month endorsed a company limited by guarantee as the preferred governance model for MAMA.
An $80,000 transition plan to implement the new structure will now unfold with a progress report due to be presented to the council by next September.
Much of that cost will go to legal and consultancy fees.
Positive Solutions' report was worth $10.472.
The future of the MAMA foundation and whether it merges with company or remains separate will also be considered as part of the switchover.
