Highland Village Museum Planning for the Future

The Highland Village Museum/An Clachan Gàidhealach has begun strategic planning to become a centre for excellence for the interpretation, representation and celebration of gaelic culture.

Catherine Cole and Associates, an Edmonton-based museum consultancy; Michael Kennedy, a gaelic researcher and historian based in North East Mabou; and Brian MacKay-Lyons, a Halifax architect, were contracted to assist the museum through this process.

"The team has great skills and knowledge and a well-researched understanding of where we, as an institution, want to be in five years," said Rodney Chaisson, museum director. "We are eagerly anticipating a plan chock-full of strategies and directions that will maximize the museum's exciting potential as a centre of excellence for the gaelic language and culture."

The team will make recommendations in five key areas. The plan will look at site development issues that affect the visitor's experience, how the gaelic language and culture are interpreted for the public and other aspects of operations. The team will recommend ways to enhance programming and interpretation, on- and off-site.

They will also make recommendations about how the museum's music collection can be used. In addition, the plan will address how the site will be marketed, and how the museum can raise money to help carry out all of these new strategies.

The consultants are expected to provide a final report in the late winter.

Support for this planning exercise is provided by the Department of Tourism and Culture and Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation. The Highland Village Museum is a part of the Nova Scotia Museum.