Province Supports Heritage Organizations Throughout Southwestern Nova Scotia
TOURISM/CULTURE--Province Supports Heritage Organizations Throughout Southwestern Nova Scotia
History enthusiasts will benefit from investments designed to build on community economic development efforts in the province. Three groups in southwestern Nova Scotia have received support from the 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 close to $180,000.
"We're pleased to invest in projects that are helping to preserve our rich heritage and drawing visitors to our community museums," said Mr. MacDonald. "These projects are also contributing to the viability of rural Nova Scotian communities.
In southwestern Nova Scotia, $6,000 will support the Admiral Digby Museum's plans for growth. The museum will be hiring a consulting firm to help plan its continued growth and sustainability. Located in Digby, the museum is a mid-1800s Georgian home that houses collections of furnishings, maps, photographs, artifacts and archives relating to the history of the Digby area and its people.
"This support will set our organization on a solid footing for the foreseeable future," said museum representative Sheryl Stanton.
The Charles MacDonald Concrete House Museum 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 giftshops and online.
"We have already begun building bridges with museums interested in this groundbreaking concept for revenue generation," said Steven Slipp of the Charles MacDonald Concrete House. "This support is enabling us to create revenue from our digital reproductions and retail Web site using our museum's unique collection and at the same time create a model for other museums to follow."
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.