Province Supports Heritage Organizations
History enthusiasts will benefit from investments designed to build on community economic development efforts in the province. Museums and heritage organizations throughout Nova Scotia are receiving support from the province's Department of Tourism and Culture.
Rodney MacDonald, Minister of Tourism and Culture, joined heritage community representatives to make the announcement at the Colchester Historical Society Museum in Truro today.
A total of $93,545 in support was distributed to museums and heritage groups throughout the province from the department's Strategic Development Initiative Fund. Four recipients in the northern region received support, along with three in the southern region, three in Cape Breton, one in Halifax and several projects that are provincial in scope. The organizations receiving the funding will also contribute to the projects for a total estimated economic investment of about $180,000.
"We're pleased to invest in projects that are helping to preserve our rich heritage and draw visitors to our community museums," said Mr. MacDonald. "These projects are also contributing to the viability of rural Nova Scotian communities."
In northern Nova Scotia, $8,897 is helping the Colchester Historical Society Museum in Truro develop a strategic plan in partnership with the Colchester Regional Development Association. The plan will concentrate on increasing public awareness of the value of heritage in the community.
The Cumberland County Museum in Amherst also received $2,790 in support for public meetings to assist in clarifying its current services, collections, mandates and future role.
The North West Heritage Network received $3,375 to create a promotional museum passport for visitors. The passport project will involve a minimum of 20 museums from Antigonish, Colchester, Cumberland, Guysborough and Pictou counties. In addition, the Amos Seaman Museum received $6,000 to help develop a strategic plan with key heritage partners in the Minudie region of Cumberland County.
In Cape Breton, $12,444 will help the North Highlands Community Museum in Cape North develop six exhibits about the social and economic life of the area. The museum will be looking for memories and photographs from area residents in the coming months to contribute to the exhibits.
Inverness County Tourism and Recreation received $12,000 to co- ordinate a county-wide affiliation of museums to develop new approaches to programming and training. The affiliation will also help to build stronger relationships with public schools, festivals and events, and cultural institutions. In addition, the Chestico Museum of Port Hood received $6,760 to develop outdoor interpretative panels describing the cultural and natural history of this area of the Trans-Canada Trail.
In the Halifax Regional Municipality, the Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum received $2,563 to create a promotional brochure titled, Aviation Treasures of Nova Scotia. The brochure is a joint project between the Greenwood Military Aviation Museum and the Shearwater Aviation Museum.
"We see this collaborative brochure as a very positive step in promoting the awareness of aviation heritage in Nova Scotia," said Mark Peapell, president of the Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum. "Our three museums offer impressive displays and when they are combined they represent a significant collection of aircraft in Canada."
The Admiral Digby Museum in Digby received $6,000 to support plans for growth. The museum will be hiring a consulting firm to help plan its continued growth and sustainability.
The Charles MacDonald Concrete House Museum in Centreville also received $6,566 to develop museum art reproductions in the coming year. Original artwork in museum collections will be digitized and offered for sale in museum gift shops and online. In addition, the Kings Historical Society received $3,750 to develop more inclusive interpretation of the cultural history of the county.
The Federation of Nova Scotian Heritage received $15,150 to undertake eight regional leadership workshops that will establish community links across the province. The workshops will also equip potential board members with tools, resources and connections to promote museums and identify actions for improved performance.
"We will be offering regional workshops focusing on creating committed, sustainable heritage boards," said Susan Charles, the federation's executive director.
The federation is also receiving $7,250 for another series of workshops to help heritage organizations build on proposal- writing skills and to develop a strategic plan.
The department's Strategic Development Initiative Fund, first announced in the spring of 2000, encourages community museums to partner with other organizations -- such as private sector not- for-profit groups and municipal governments -- to build relationships for sustainable economic development in rural Nova Scotia. Twenty-five museums will directly benefit from this announcement, while other projects will have an impact on the broader heritage community.