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Data: Essential for an Informed Heritage and Museum Funding Programs Review
The OMA, in consultation with the cultural sector, produced a sector roadmap Ontario’s Museums 2025: Strategic Vision & Action Plan, which identifies research, outcome-based evaluation, and self-assessment as key to demonstrating the social and economic impact of Ontario’s museums. To create an effective and collaborative workforce (pages 7 and 8), all levels of government and the OMA need to collect, analyse and report on available and new data.
Data availability demonstrates transparency and public accountability for funding, and is essential to develop the important benchmarks and performance indicators to foster excellence and relevance in museum work. As stated by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport (MTCS), the Ministry is “reviewing its funding programs to better serve the needs of community museums and heritage organizations”.
The OMA requested that MTCS release museum data collected through Ministry programs (e.g. in Grants Ontario), as per the Ontario Open Data Directive. This is part of the OMA’s ongoing efforts (CMOG Snapshot 2000-2004, Ontario’s Museums 2014 Profile, the Museum Impact Survey- coming Fall 2019 at OMA Conference) to know the state of the sector, identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOTs).
While some museum data is under review for release as Open Data, analysis of additional data from CMOG and HODG applications, including performance metrics/measures and budgets (revenues and expenses) is essential to provide evidence-based recommendations for the Heritage and Museum Funding Programs Review. This information will identify the diverse needs of museums of all types and sizes in Ontario: Not-for-Profit museums, rural museums, Northern museums, and those of all budget sizes.
The OMA is working with the Ministry to address the data gap and obtain the needed information.
If you have questions and comments, please contact Marie Lalonde at mlalonde@museumsontario.ca
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Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport
at OMA Conference
Don't miss out! The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport (MTCS) will present an update on the Heritage and Museum Funding Programs review at the OMA Conference in Brantford, October 23-25, 2019.
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Save $100+! Early Bird Rate ends August 15th!
Register for Conference HERE. |
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Brantford—Brant Museum Funding Roundtable
Nathan Etherington of the Brant Historical Society (pictured right) brought together representatives from three levels of government to discuss the nature of funding for museums across Ontario.
Gathering at the Brant Museum and Archives were (left to right): Phil McColeman, MP Brantford—Brant; Will Bouma, MPP Brantford—Brant and Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier; and Steve Howes, County of Brant Ward 2 Councillor. OMA ED Marie Lalonde (second from right) presented an update on current museum funding and recommended improvements to policies and programs at all levels to support museums in fulfilling their potential, as identified in Ontario's Museums 2025.
Request a meeting with your MPP this summer! Download a template invitation HERE.
Find your MPP's contact information HERE.
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| August is a great month for advocacy! The American Alliance of Museums has declared that Invite Congress to Visit Your Museum Week 2019 is August 12-16! |
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OMA at AMO Conference Trade Show
August 18-19, Ottawa
The Ontario Museum Association will be exhibiting during the Trade Show portion of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference in Ottawa August 18 and 19.
Members can encourage local municipal colleagues and representatives that may be attending the AMO Conference Trade Show to meet the OMA at Booth 526. If you would like the OMA to send a letter to a municipal representative (Mayor, CAO, etc.) encouraging them to visit the OMA booth, please send an email tomlalonde@museumsontario.ca.
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Lucan Area Heritage & Donnelly Museum Hosts Announcement by Premier Ford
Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced a $315 million investment to improve internet and cellular connectivity across rural Ontario. At the Lucan Area Heritage & Donnelly Museum on July 23, Premier Ford was joined by three members of the PC caucus: Hon. Laurie Scott, Minister of Infrastructure and MPP for Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock; Hon. Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture and MPP for Oxford; and Hon. Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour and MPP for Lambton—Kent—Middlesex (pictured shaking hands with Premier Ford).
The selection of the Museum as the site for the announcement speaks to the central role of local museums as community assets and gathering places.
Read more HERE.
The Ontario government recognises the importance of connectivity for rural communities. Digital access and engagement are increasingly important for all museums in Ontario, with 93.5 million online visits to our province’s museum websites per year—that’s 3 visits per second!Image Credits: Top: Blackburn News. Bottom Left: Madelaine Harding-MacDonald for Lucan Area Heritage & Donnelly Museum. Bottom Right: Derek Ruttan/ The London Free Press.
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Andrzej Kurnicki of Ottawa, centre, Poland’s ambassador to Canada, laid wreaths at the Brantford cenotaph Sunday and at the Polish-Canadian cenotaph nearby in Tom Thumb Park. On hand for the occasion were Brantford Coun. Cheryl Antonski and Capt. Krzysztof Ksiazek of the Polish army.
MONTE SONNENBERG / SIMCOE REFORMER
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Poland's Ambassador to Canada Visits Canadian Military Heritage Museum, Brantford
Adrzej Kurnicki, Poland's ambassador to Canada, made a special stop at the Canadian Military Heritage Museum on August 5th as part of his trip to the Brantford area to recognize Canadians who fought in Poland during the Second World War. The ambassador's visit included the Museum during its annual open house, as well as laying wreaths at two local cenotaphs.
Read more HERE.
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Susanne Richter, executive director of the Thousand Islands Boat Museum, speaks while Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, Gananoque Mayor Ted Lojko, Ontario Trillium Foundation representative Jim Pickard, Tom Russell, executive director of the 1000 Islands Community Development Corporation, and Neil McCarney, general manager of Gananoque Boat Lines, listen during Saturday's official opening of the museum's new boathouse.
THE RECORDER AND TIMES, July 15, 2019
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Thousand Islands Boat Museum Celebrates Capital Campaign
On July 13th, the Thousand Islands Boat Museum recognised the end of Phase Two of their expansion project with a presentation of $150,000 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. The expansion has provided needed protection and exhibition space for the Museum's collection. The Museum has plans to raise another $1 million to complete Phase 3 of the $3.5 million project by spring 2020.
Read more HERE.
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Explore Common Themes at OMA Conference
Networking in the Conference Host Region
In these concurrent sessions, find out how museums in and around Brantford are building networks to support digital access and educational advocates. |
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Embracing Tourism
Speakers (from left): Adrienne Carter, Manager, Destination Development & Finance, Heart of Ontario; Mike Baker, Manager, Museum and Archives, County of Elgin Museum;Scott Gillies, Curator, Ingersoll Cheese & Agricultural Museum
Learn how museums can engage in all kinds of networks to collaborate with tourism and reach new audiences.
Have a First Look at the Conference Program HERE |
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Networking in the Digital Economy
Speaker: Nathan Etherington, Program & Community Coordinator, Brant Historical Society
Learn about how the Brant Historical Society are becoming leaders in the digital economy. Topics covered in this session will include server upgrades, back up protocols, the initiative for the mass digitization of archives, and how Brant Historical Society aims to share collections with communities across the province to help build their organization’s digital capacity.
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Museum Impact Survey: Update from Prize Winners!
As part of the Museum Impact Survey, two prize draws took place, and our Apple Store Gift Card winners have put their prizes to good use in their museums.
Mississippi Valley Textile Museum put their prize towards the purchase of a wireless speaker that they use for exhibits and events.
For the Peterborough Museum & Archives, the prize helped with the purchase of six iPads and cases that they use for education and programming.
Thank you to all of our Museum Impact Survey respondents!
Image Credits: 1. Wireless Speaker, Michael Rikley-Lancaster; 2. Ice Age Mammals, Peterborough Museum & Archives
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2019 Call for Proposals for Virtual Exhibits from the Virtual Museum of Canada
Deadline for Proposals: October 23, 2019
The Virtual Museum of Canada (VMC) can help you create an online product like a virtual exhibit, virtual tour, web-based game, web app, educational resource and more!VMC has released a short handout showcasing the benefits of the program as well as basic program details. If you're a museum or heritage organization looking to create an online product, this program is for you.
For the English version, click HERE.
Pour la version française, cliquez ICI. Read More HERE.
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Canada Federal Election
October 21, 2019
Elections Canada has released a Guide to the Federal Election, which contains the information people need to register and vote.
Read more HERE.
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Upcoming OMA Dates
August 15: Early Bird Registration Deadline for OMA Conference 2019 (register HERE) August 21-23: CMS: Exhibit Planning & Design, Canadian Canoe Museum, Peterborough, ON (Course Full - join the waiting list HERE) September 11: Application deadline for CMA Conference Bursary (read more HERE)
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