Government of Yukon
Archives
FOR RELEASE #06-227
November 21, 2006
Yukon Museums Receive Special Projects Assistance Funding
WHITEHORSE - Eleven projects designed to enhance the development and outreach activities of Yukon museums will share $340,000 in Special Projects Assistance Program funding, announced Tourism and Culture Minister Elaine Taylor.
"The calibre of projects funded through the Special Projects Assistance Program shows the level of commitment and social importance of our local museums," Taylor said. "We want to ensure that not-for-profits, volunteer boards, municipal governments and First Nations who promote the preservation of Yukon’s shared cultural legacy continue to be empowered and active participants in the social and economic fabric of Yukon society."
In March 2006 the Yukon government announced a $200,000 funding increase for Yukon museums, and the creation of the Museums Advisory Committee to oversee the application process that allows museums to draw on this capital assistance funding.
Prior to the March 2006 announcement, the Museums Assistance program provided $140,000 annually to museums for exhibit development and small capital project assistance. The additional $200,000 expanded the scope of funding assistance to include artifact inventory and cataloguing, conservation, cooperative marketing ventures and revenue generation enhancement projects.
The increase was partly in response to the priorities identified in the 2005 Museums Strategy.
A total of 13 proposals were received for the 2006 intake, with requests totaling more than $407,000. All proposals were reviewed and adjudicated by a panel of independent museum professionals.
Successful projects include the Yukon Historical and Museums Association with $10,950 for the Yukon heritage attraction joint marketing project.
Yukon Historical and Museums Association (YHMA) President Brent Slobodin said, "As the umbrella organization for Yukon museums, YHMA strives to provide affordable joint marketing opportunities for Yukon heritage attractions to share their stories and promote their organizations to locals and visitors alike. This funding and ongoing support from the Department of Tourism and Culture will ensure the continued success of Yukon’s museums as tourism destinations."
In total, the Government of Yukon will provide an estimated $1.5 million to Yukon’s museums, and interpretive and First Nation cultural/heritage centres in fiscal year 2006-07.
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Please see attached list of projects.
| Contact: | |
| Albert Petersen | Karen Keeley |
| Cabinet Communications | Communications Officer, Tourism and Culture |
| (867) 633-7961 | (867) 667-8304 |
| albert.petersen@gov.yk.ca | karen.keeley@gov.yk.ca |
SPECIAL PROJECTS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 2006
Dawson City Museum and Historical Society will receive $10,000 towards strategic planning initiatives for the museum.
MacBride Museum Society will receive $26,000 towards specialized building upgrades and a further $73,165 for inventory and cataloging of its collection.
Miles Canyon Historic Railway Society (Copperbelt Mining Railway and Museum) will receive $22,813 for exhibit planning.
Town of Watson Lake (Northern Lights Centre) will receive $46,700 for the development of a new Aurora Borealis production for the facility.
Yukon Church Heritage Society (Old Log Church Museum) will receive $12,925 for the Bishop Who Ate His Boots traveling exhibit and gala opening. The society will also receive $1,607 for computer upgrades and a further $99,905 for a History of the Anglican Church in Yukon traveling exhibit project.
Yukon Transportation Museum Society will receive $19,935 for landscaping enhancements and an additional $16,000 to install a foundation for a dedicated storage facility.
Yukon Historical and Museums Association will receive $10,950 for a joint marketing project for various heritage attractions.
Total: $340,000