Coming Grant Deadlines for Fall 2022

The Access to Heritage, Indigenous Heritage and Collections Management components of the Museums Assistance Program application period is now open. The deadline to apply for these components is Tuesday, November 15, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. EST.

For full details on program eligibility and information on how to apply, please visit Museums Assistance Program page.

Applicants are encouraged to contact a program advisor to discuss their project before they apply.

The Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) offers conservation treatments on objects and works of art in order to prevent further deterioration, to aid interpretation or to re-establish culturally significant qualities. Treatments can range from minimal stabilization to more extensive restorations.

Who can apply?

• museums, archives, libraries and historic sites, whose principal role is to acquire, conserve, communicate, exhibit and conduct research on permanent heritage collections that are accessible to the Canadian public

How to apply

• complete the conservation treatment request form. Please note that only the following types of objects will be considered in the 2022 review period:
  • books,
  • photographs,
  • works of art on paper such as prints and drawings

Application period

• Unless otherwise specified, applications for treatment services can be submitted between November 1 and November 30. Clients are informed of the results of the assessment by January 30

Read more about eligibility and how to apply HERE.

Does your organization have a compelling story that could be told using a digital platform? Do you need funding or expert guidance?
 
Digital Museums Canada (DMC) is the largest national investment program dedicated to supporting digital projects developed by Canadian museum and heritage organizations. 
 
Through our annual Call for Proposals, eligible organizations are invited to apply for up to $250,000 in investment funding for digital projects to create incredible online experiences that engage current and future audiences.
 
The 2022 Call for Proposals closes on December 1 at 5 p.m. EST.
 
Need help with your proposal? Register for a free, virtual information session November 2nd (French) and November 3rd (English) to get knowledge, tools and resources that you can use to make your application stand out. 
  
Visit digitalmuseums.ca for more information and to register for the session.

This fund supports the recovery efforts of organizations impacted by COVID-19 and helps them respond with immediate, medium, and longer-term recovery projects.

The grant supports projects that help rebuild an organization’s capacity, enhance their resiliency, and meet the changing needs of their communities. Projects should be focused on: 

• developing new approaches;
• starting new activities;
• adjusting strategies, or 
• planning for future challenges 

Applicants who received a Resilient Communities Fund grant from the April 6, 2022 deadline are not eligible to apply for this round.

Read more HERE.

CMA Federal Budget Submission
Canadian Museums Association (CMA)

In advance of the upcoming federal budget discussions by the Finance Committee in the House of Commons, the CMA submitted a brief outlining the museum sector's most pressing matters. The submission gives three primary recommendations:

• Recommendation 1: That the Government of Canada establish a funding component within the Museum Assistance Program (MAP) to support repatriation of Indigenous Belongings
• Recommendation 2: That the Government of Canada establish a funding component within the MAP to support capacity-building for Indigenous cultural centres and Indigenous-led heritage organizations.
• Recommendation 3: That funding for the recommended dedicated MAP components be incremental to current 2022 MAP allocations.

Read the full submission HERE.

The CMA also worked with the Visual Arts Alliance (VAA) to complete a submission pushing for stronger support of the visual arts:

As a convenor, the OMA serves as the nexus of a strong network, building a more collaborative, professional and connected sector, through effective communications, and the provision of valuable resources and services. The OMA Annual Conference connects Ontario's museum community, the largest in Canada, bringing together museum professionals, cultural leaders and decision-makers. Recently, in 2021, the OMA held a virtual conference offering the museum sector an opportunity to reconnect with colleagues on the theme of "Reopening, Recovery and Reimagination." Sessions focused on member participation and discussions on a renewed operations funding model, the digital transformation of museums, and how to support a diverse workforce.

In addition, the OMA facilitates sectoral gatherings through various symposia and meetings, including the Indigenous Collections Symposium (2017 and 2021), Inclusive Museum Leadership Symposium (2018), Accessibility Symposium (2012) and Colloquia on Learning in Museums. In 2021, during the persisting challenges of the pandemic, the OMA provided support to Ontario’s museums and museum workers to participate in the province’s reopening and recovery through online webinars, member check-ins and regular e-communications.

The OMA continues to be supportive and responsive to members’ needs through strengthening the province-wide network of Regional Museum Networks (RMNs). Together with the OMA, RMNs work to facilitate communication, consultation and information exchange on issues of common interest, including best practices, advocacy and professional development initiatives.

Additionally, through the museumsuccession project, the OMA saw the formation of the Group of Ontario Emerging Museum Professionals (GOEMP)– an online community to empower, support, and create a network of emerging museum professionals within Ontario’s museum sector. We continue to collaborate with GOEMP to host Ask Me Anything, an online series of webinars, and Conference Connections which both serve to connect emerging museum professionals with highly experienced professionals.

In 2022, the OMA and academic partner George Brown College partnered to facilitate the design charrette, Creating a Vision of Museums in a Digital Future, to explore how digitization can be incorporated into museums in the future. During the creative work session, museum professionals, designers and industry experts came together to collaborate, brainstorm and discuss new ideas about modernization in the museums sector.

The OMA continues to work with fellow National, Provincial, and Territorial Museums Association (NPTMA) colleagues on the new National Museum Policy and its development. Referencing the new international ICOM Museum Definition, the OMA will work with NPTMA's to ensure that the process considers advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, furthering digital transformation, encouraging equity, diversity and inclusion, and seeking opportunities for improved financial stability for Ontario museums.

 
Join us as a mentor or mentee on Monday November 7, 2022 at the OMA Annual Conference in Hamilton for your very own Conference Connection!

Conference Connections is a successful mentorship program co-coordinated by the Group of Ontario Emerging Museum Professionals Committee (GOEMP) and the Ontario Museum Association (OMA). It is designed to introduce Emerging Museum Professionals (EMPs) to more established museum professionals, facilitating professional networking and exchange.

Note: Mentors and mentees will be paired before Conference and can meet during the networking break (1:45 - 2:30pm).

Register as a Mentor or Mentee by October 21, 2022 HERE.

• Monday, November 7, 2022 In-person (Hamilton) – select sessions live-streamed
• Tuesday, November 8, 2022 (Hamilton) Study Tours
• Monday, November 21, 2022 Online – Full day of interactive online sessions

Online 
Thursday October 20, 2022
10:00am to 12:00pm
Free

In 2015, the West Parry Sound District Museum was lucky enough to be chosen to take part in Re-Org Canada, an initiative designed to assist museums dealing with poorly documented collections and inadequate storage conditions. Join Curator/Manager, Nadine Hammond, and Collections Supervisor, Amy Sultana, as they discuss what the project entailed, how they tore apart the collections storage, and some of the ventures that arose from the initiative including a Found in Collection project and an exhibition entitled “Look What We Found!” 

Join us for a conversation about being forced to ask hard questions about collections management, access, use and need.

Read more and register HERE.

Online 
Thursday October 27, 2022
1:00pm to 2:00pm
Free

On October 27, join us for a free webinar for a basic introduction to our brand new 2022 Canadian Nonprofit Sector Salary & Benefits Report, where we’ll review of the executive summary and provide tips and pointers on how to read the report and interpret the data.

The webinar will cover information for both employers and individuals, so there will be something for everyone, regardless of where you sit on the hiring equation.

Here are some general learning objectives for this webinar: 

• A review of the methodology and who participated 
• Highlights from the report 
• How to put the compensation benchmarks to use – for employers and individuals 
• Making the case for a higher nonprofit salary

Read more and register HERE.

Online 
Wednesday November 9th, 2022
12:00pm - 1:00pm

Imposter syndrome... it’s that nagging feeling that you're not really as good at things as people think you are, or that it's only a matter of time before you're found out. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone! 

Imposter syndrome is an occupational hazard in workplaces and beyond. But feeling like we don't quite belong where we are can have a damaging effect on us longer-term and can impact many areas of our lives. 

In this workshop we will explore the different types of imposter syndrome, what may be causing them, and what the research shows can help us move beyond it. We'll look at how gender, race and other identities contribute to imposter syndrome, and how to make small changes in the way we relate to others and ourselves that can create more supportive, connective workplace environments and communities. 

If you find yourself dealing with imposter syndrome in some area of your life, or know people who do, this online workshop is for you!

Read more and register HERE.

In Person 
Wednesday November 16th, 2022
7:00pm

The Ontario Heritage Trust is excited to announce that Jay Pitter is the Heritage Matters Live 2022 speaker and will be giving a talk called “The Future of Culture is ...” Pitter’s incredible experience in placemaking, as well as her broader work in the culture sector, will make for an engaging and thought-provoking discussion that touches on designing equitable and inclusive spaces.

Pitter’s work is on the cutting edge of understanding and grappling with our complicated histories while ensuring an equitable and inclusive future. Examples of her projects include:

• working with the City of Toronto to develop a Cultural District Program Proposal and a Little Jamaica Master Plan
• engaging the community regarding a statue to Queen Victoria and local efforts to decolonize public spaces, for the City of Kitchener
• leading the project to reimagine the Cheapside Confederate monument in Lexington, Kentucky, with site practice and research to address the community impacts of these public commemorations

At the end of the talk, there will be an onstage panel discussion with Pitter and a number of guests who will share examples of the tangible ways that individuals and organizations can meet the positive vision for the future laid out in Pitter’s presentation.

Read more and buy tickets HERE.

Online 
Thursday December 1st, 2022
9:00am - 12:00pm

This workshop will make it easier for staff and volunteers of social impact organizations to develop and execute on their strategic plan through the use of practical tools and templates. Participants will walk away with the ability to develop: a plan to engage stakeholders, a one to two page strategic plan, and an action plan to meet your goals.  This session will help focus your organization’s priorities so you can offer the best possible support to enable your clients and community to thrive.

In this workshop you will learn about:

• What makes an effective strategic plan

• The steps needed to develop an effective and actionable strategic plan

• How to implement your strategic plan and move towards actions

• How to identify and engage the people at the center of your strategic plan

• The four step process to successful human-centered strategic planning

  • Organizational Reflection

  • Stakeholder Engagement

  • Strategy Co-creation

  • Actions & Implementation

• Simple tools and templates to help your organization and team create an actionable strategic plan

Read more and buy tickets HERE.

The Ontario Museum Association will hold its 2022 Annual General Meeting virtually on Friday, October 28, 2022 at 10:00a.m. to 11:00a.m. 

Members can participate by registering HERE.
Please find the following AGM documents HERE:

• AGM Agenda 
• 2021 AGM Minutes
• Audited Summary Financial Statements 2021-2022
• Council Nominations Slate
• Call for Members of the 2023 Nominations Committee
• AGM Motion Form
• AGM Proxy Form

Call for Members for the 2023 Nominations Committee
The OMA is calling for nominations for up to three individual OMA members in good standing who would be interested and willing to serve as members of the 2023 Nominations Committee to be elected by members at the AGM. Please fill out the Nominations form by October 21, 2022 and send it to nominations@museumsontario.ca.

Contact Us
For questions or more information
By email at membership@museumsontario.ca or
By phone at 416-348-8672 or toll-free in Ontario 1-866-662-8672