BC Museums Association update
Here’s the latest on what’s happening at the BC Museums Association!
· TODAY (Feb 20) is the deadline for including your Scottish-related exhibitions, heritage properties and collections in a report that is going to the Scottish government about Scottish culture in BC. If you’d like to be included in the report, please contact tmackay@museumsassn.bc.ca for further info.
· WEDNESDAY Feb 25 is the deadline for expressions of interest from BC-based academic institutions who are interested in partnering with us on the development of a new digital museum studies program. For more information, click here.
· The Winter issue of Roundup is done and looks fantastic! If you are a member, next week you will be receiving an email with a download code to receive a copy. Our thanks goes to Lisa Codd from the Burnaby Village Museum and Nelson Agustin for this, their final issue with us. We will miss their involvement and thank them for all of the amazing work they’ve done over the years!
· Upcoming RFP: With Lisa and Nelson leaving (sniff…) watch Listserv for an RFP for Editor and/or designer of Roundup. In the meantime, Roundup is being refreshed and redesigned to bring it in line with our brand.
· A new logo is on its way! Over the past year we have defined our brand and recently we had a new logo developed that better represents who we are today. Stay tuned for the big reveal!
· We’re cleaning data! Doesn’t sound like loads of fun but once we’ve cleaned house we’ll be able to launch our new member enewsletter. Watch your In Boxes for the first issue coming soon!
· We are currently developing our schedule of professional development opportunities for the year, including workshops, master classes, our AGM reception in September and, of course, our conference in New Westminster from Oct 25-27.
· Speaking of the conference, a call for proposals is about to launch. We are looking for speakers to do plenaries, experts to participate in our Ask the Expert session, and instructors to run how-to’s and 101s. Keep your eyes on this Listserv for the call. Thanks to Catherine Ouellet-Martin of the Fraser River Discovery Centre and Rob McCullough of the New Westminster Museum & Archives for co-chairing the conference this year!
· We are always looking for new workshop locations. Would you like to host a workshop in your community? Let us know!
· Welcome three new volunteers to the office! Sabina Guildford, Christina Elkiw and Kristy Fallon have all joined us to work on special projects. Sabina is writing the history of the BCMA in preparation for our 60th anniversary year in 2017. Christina is assisting with organizing our archives and providing some much-needed support in membership processing! Kristy is assisting on a number of marketing projects including the new enewsletter. Thank you to all of you for giving back to your community!
· We have begun work as advisors on a project connected to the Chinese Historical Wrongs report that was produced by the Provincial Government. Thank you goes to theUniversity of Victoria for requesting our involvement in their project.
· Also coming up is a call for nominations for this year’s BCMA Awards for Outstanding Achievement. Start thinking of who you would like to nominate! This year all nominations will be done online.
· We recently met in Vancouver with the Honorable Dr. Hedy Fry P.C., M.P. and the Honorable Stephane Dion P.C., M.P., Liberal Party of Canada’s Heritage Critic, at an arts and culture roundtable to discuss current issues in culture. As well, we met alongside other cultural leaders based in Victoria with Andrew Campbell, Senior Executive Director of the Canada 150th Federal Secretariat to discuss federal plans for Canada’s 150th.
· Council recently met in New Westminster for a full day of strategic planning. Check out the photos on Facebook to get a feel for the day!
· Thank you to the BC Arts Council for recent notification of our funding for 2015/16! Your support is critical and very much appreciated.
· We hold a spot on the University of Victoria’s Cultural Resource Management Program Advisory Council and this week had the pleasure of attending a meeting to hear all about their upcoming courses. Exciting!
· We have entered into a partnership with Craigdarroch Castle and Heritage BC to fund a student research project at Royal Roads University that will review and assess existing plans, strategies and web resources of the Heritage Tourism Alliance with an aim to providing recommendations and next steps for the future. Findings will be shared at the BCMA Conference with a final report delivered at the end of this year.
· Membership benefits and pricing are currently under review with Council. If you have ever wanted to become a member, now is the time!
Thank you to everyone, especially our members, for their continued support of the BC Museums Association.
