Amendments to the Nova Scotia Museum Act
Modernized legislation will help Nova Scotians enjoy the buildings, vessels and collections that make up the provincial museum system for years to come.
Changes to the Nova Scotia Museum Act, introduced today, March 1, strengthen governance and address fees and fundraising.
“A stronger board of governors will allow us to better ensure that Nova Scotia’s rich and diverse heritage and stories are preserved and shared,” said Leo Glavine, Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage. “These changes will help us in our efforts to reposition the system, to attract broader and bigger audiences and to tell the compelling stories that Nova Scotians want to see and hear.”
Proposed changes will:
- enhance the mandate of the board of governors to allow more direct oversight of museum operations. Members will be appointed by a nominating committee consisting of the board chair and three other members, and when possible, candidates will reflect Nova Scotia’s cultural, generational, gender and ability diversity
- allow the board to set reasonable visitor fees
- enable the board to fundraise and effectively market the museum’s unique offerings
The Nova Scotia Museum system consists of 28 museum sites and is one of the oldest provincial systems in the country. It is responsible for the provincial collection of over one million artifacts and specimens. It also oversees the stewardship of more than 210 buildings, four floating vessels and nine locomotives.
The collection provides Nova Scotians with a rich resource for conducting research, educational programs, exhibit development, and reflects the incredible diversity of Nova Scotia’s human and natural histories.
These changes support the mandate of the Culture Action Plan. Through this plan, the province has committed to support cultural excellence and stewardship and aims to make Nova Scotia a place known for its strong, empowered and vibrant communities and thriving creative economy.
To learn more, visit: https://novascotia.ca/culture/ .