This video recording from the Ontario Museum Association Annual Conference 2021 features two presentations from a variety of museum professionals.
Articulating the Value of Museums to out Communities
Museums for Me was launched in 2020 by the consortium of provincial and territorial museums associations and the Canadian Museums Association led by the Alberta Museums Association (AMA). The first phase of the project was to listen to Canadians. Last year, our public engagement campaign asked Canadians from all regions and with diverse backgrounds and interests, what do museums mean to you?
In this session, the AMA shared some of the initial findings of the research and engagement campaign. We look at the public’s perception of the role, value, and future of museums, as well as explore how views on museums have changed over time. Finally, we consider what this information might mean for museums and how we are working to help them better communicate their value to their community.
Speakers:
- Jennifer Forsyth, Executive Director, Alberta Museums Association
- Caroline Loewen, Project Lead, Museums for Me
- Victoria Dickenson. Independent Consultant and Scholar
Reimagine Our Museums
Hamilton’s Civic Museums are treasured public institutions. Residents are proud of their museums and recognize that they have great potential to reach larger audiences, to tell more diverse stories, and to be more connected to their surrounding communities. The Reimagine our Museums project was a multi-faceted public engagement campaign designed to learn more about residents’ current experiences with these important institutions, as well as thoughts and suggestions to improve them moving forward. Through the use of innovative engagement techniques, the project balanced the experiences of existing patrons with a broader diversity of residents not currently connected with the City’s museums. In this session, Civicplan and Project Manager Sonia Mvra discuss the Reimagine Our Museums project, process and lessons learned.
Speakers:
- Sonja Macdonald, Principal and co-founder, Civicplan
- Paul Shaker, Principal and co-founder, Civicplan
- Sonia Mrva, Manager Museums, City of Toronto
