The Manitoba government has created a new Community Museum Project Support program, an eight-year initiative designed to fund museum activities that advance reconciliation, equity, diversity, inclusion, COVID-19 recovery and collections management.
“Our museums are important community establishments that play an integral role in the protection, promotion and education of Manitoba’s diverse heritage, culture and identity,” said Sport, Culture and Heritage Minister Cathy Cox. “The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly limited museums’ ability to do what they do best, bring people together from here and abroad to learn, celebrate and grow through a deeper understanding of our province’s unique and important stories. This new grant will help support the economic recovery of these important facilities and will support our government’s commitment to advance reconciliation and build a more inclusive and prosperous future for all Manitobans.”
Eligible groups include non-profit community museums focused on conserving, preserving and interpreting artistic, scientific and historical items for the enjoyment of the public. Special preference will be given to opportunities that support an appropriate interpretation of Manitoba’s history and include partnerships with Indigenous people or communities, the minister noted.
This new program is a part of the larger $25-million The Bay Building Fund, established in April 2021. This investment, held in trust by The Winnipeg Foundation, is a spend-down fund that uses interest generated from the initial contribution to support heritage projects that align with The Bay Building Fund mandate.
The Community Museum Project Support program will allocate $240,000 annually to support up to 100 per cent of project costs, up to a maximum of $25,000 per applicant. Applications can be submitted until Feb. 1, 2022.
For more information about the Community Museum Project Support program, visit gov.mb.ca.
