Minister MacLeod on Ontario Museums

Read the News Release HERE. 

At last year’s conference, Minister, we discussed the importance of addressing operating funding for Ontario museums. Today presents an opportunity for an update on these plans for our members and we welcome your comments.

• “I remain committed to trying to ensure we modernize the operating grants”
  “the province will continue to support you through heritage grants and CMOG and will continue to work over the multi years that we have ahead of us to better refine and enhance the operating grants that we supply to you.”

We are interested in hearing the Ministry’s plans to support the ongoing digital transformation and capacity building for Ontario museums across the province.

• “It doesn't matter where you're at in the Province of Ontario, really in the world, but you're able to access that content. And so I really do think, from the cultural perspective and the societal perspective, that's important. But also I think it allows us to get our word out to from a tourism perspective, to get people thinking about what they might want to see in person, even if they live a world away when they're planning their trip.”

The OMA has written follow-up correspondence to the Minister to thank her for attending the OMA Conference, and looks forward to continuing its work with the Minister and MHSTCI staff on these and other central issues of interest to Ontario museums for pandemic recovery.

Online whiteboards called Jamboards are available from all of the conference discussions, and we welcome all members' contributions.

• 93% of those polled in the session said yes.

When asked "With additional operating funding, what parts of museum work would you invest in?", the top three choices were:

• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility;
• Advancing Truth & Reconciliation; and
• Core Museum Functions.

Agree, disagree? Add your comments to the Jamboard for Operational Funding HERE. 

The Ontario Museum Association (OMA) has recognized a unique initiative by the City of Hamilton that has helped to ensure the future of museums in the city for years to come. The project has earned the OMA's distinguished Award of Excellence in Community engagement for its role in helping to steer the city’s museum into a sustainable future.

The Reimagine Our Museums program, developed by Hamilton Civic Museums and consulting firm Civicplan, was launched in 2019 and was a city-wide engagement project that elicited insight from thousands of residents about Hamilton’s museums and their place in the community. The project engaged more than 200 groups, among which included Indigenous groups, educational institutions, LGBTQ+ organizations, conservation and environmental organizations, youth and senior groups.

Read more HERE. 
Watch the video and read about the 2021 OMA Awards of Excellence HERE.

Que les travaux commencent! Le Muséoparc a procédé à la première pelletée de terre pour lancer la reconstruction de la Cabane à sucre Vanier le 3 décembre dernier.  Merci à tous ceux qui étaient présents pour souligner cet événement spécial, dont l'honorable Mona Fortier députée fédérale, la députée provinciale Lucille Collard, le maire Jim Watson et les conseillers municipaux Mathieu Fleury et Rawlson King. Aussi présents, la directrice générale intérimaire Madeleine Meilleur, et le président du Muséoparc Vanier, Dr. Jonathan Paquette (nouveau membre du C.A. de l'AMO). 

Let the work begin! The Vanier Museopark held a groundbreaking ceremony on December 3 to officially launch the construction of the new Vanier Sugar Shack. Thank you to everyone in attendance and made this event extra special, including The Honourable Mona Fortier MP, Lucille Collard MPP, Mayor Jim Watson and city councillors Mathieu Fleury and Rawlson King. Also in attendance are Interim Executive Director Madeleine Meilleur and Museopark Vanier President Dr. Jonathan Paquette (new OMA Council member).

November 12, 2021, saw the grand opening of the new/expanded Museum in Dressler House – it’s now called the Canadian Women in Film Museum and as well as Marie Dressler, features early Canadian women movie stars Mary Pickford and Norma Shearer.  It was conducted on Zoom and featured speeches by Minister David Piccini, Mayor John Henderson, MP Philip Lawrence, Cara Krmpotich Associate Professor of Museum Studies at U of T, Cari Beauchamp of the Mary Pickford Foundation and Darin Barnes collector and Curator for Norma Shearer.

The Honourable Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, has not yet visited (she sent a letter instead) but MPP Piccini and MP Lawrence did visit along with major donors. Funding for the Museum has been by private donations as well as Government – Federal, Provincial and Municipal (Cobourg).  The work was organized by the Marie Dressler Foundation.

Read more HERE. 

CMS Course: Museums in Historic Buildings (Facilities Management)
Date: March 2-4, 2022
Location: Waterloo Region Museum, Kitchener, ON
Course Director: Marcus Letourneau, Letourneau Heritage Consulting
NEW! Registration Opening Date: Tuesday, January 18, 2022

Read more about Museums in Historic Buildings (Facilities Management) HERE.
Find out more about the Certificate in Museum Studies Program HERE. 

Questions about the Certificate in Museum Studies Program? Email pd@museumsontario.ca.

Is there a conference, webinar or presentation you’d really like to attend, but the price tag is just too steep? Have you found a short-term class that would really boost your skillset? The CMA bursary program is a great way to get financial support for your professional development and can cover up to $1,500 in costs.

Until March 31, 2022, access to this program will be more flexible. Events shorter than one full day are now eligible and the number of recipients that can receive funding for an event has increased (was previously limited to five). 

Read more HERE. 

This 1-year funding initiative, available through the Celebration and Commemoration Program, will provide funding to eligible recipients to support initiatives that meet 1 or more of the following requirements:

• increase opportunities for Canadians to participate in various commemorative activities and celebrations to mark Canada’s emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic;
• build a sense of pride and belonging to Canada by holding celebratory and commemorative activities that recognize people and achievements in the response to COVID-19; and
• support the revival of local economies through in person events.

You must meet all eligibility requirements and submit a complete application package by January 10, 2022, to be considered for funding.

Read more HERE. 

• 49% of pre-pandemic attendees expected to wait before returning to art galleries or museums;
• many more Canadians planned to reduce (37%) than increase (19%) their spending on entertainment after the pandemic, compared with their pre-pandemic levels;
• surveys show that many Canadians have missed and are eager to return to arts activities; 
• for museums and galleries, 90% of pre-pandemic visitors indicated that “controlled access to avoid queues” would have either a somewhat or very positive influence; and
• Ontarians who recently attended indoor arts activities have felt very comfortable doing so. On a scale from 1 to 5, about 90% of attendees rated their comfort level as either 4 or 5.

Read the full report HERE. 

2022's International Museum Day will take place on May 18, and the poster has been released. "The Power of Museums" will explore the issues addressed in the upcoming ICOM Conference in Prague, and how museums can make the world a better place. 

Download the poster HERE (automatic .zip download). 

For all questions or inquiries please contact the OMA: community@museumsontario.ca or call 416-348-8672 / 1-866-662-8672.