Public Meetings Regarding PEI Heritage and Museums

As published in the Prince Edward Island Council of the Arts Newsletter - March 5, 2007

The Institute of Island Studies (IIS) at the University of Prince Edward Island is bringing museum and heritage professionals together with the general public to discuss the current museum/artifactory issue. Panelists include Dr. Ann Howatt, Ian Scott, former Executive Director of the PEI Museum & Heritage Foundation, and a local community heritage representative in each county.

Irene Novaczek, Director of the Institute of Island Studies, notes that, "The Institute of Island Studies is concerned with, and committed to, the issues concerning Islanders. One of our mandates is to perform research and promote progressive public policy, including the intelligent stewardship of Island heritage and the management of existing resources for future sustainability."

The PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation oversees museum collections for the province of PEI. Its facilities include a building for artifacts storage (the Artifactory) and seven seasonal, decentralized, theme-based museum sites. Of more than 80,000 artifacts, an estimated two-thirds or 53,300 are in the Artifactory. Since 1981, the provincial collection has been warehoused in a steel building in West Royalty. The provincial government now intends to build a new storage facility in Murray River.

At the public forums the IIS will gather information on Islander's perceptions, concerns, and positions and will make this information available to the public and elected officials (who will be invited to attend/participate from the floor in these discussions).

"The forums are an opportunity for all, whether the general public, or those who have contributed to heritage preservation -- volunteer or paid – to share their views on where museums fit into the bigger picture of Island life and landscape,” says Fred Horne, Archivist/Collections Coordinator, Wyatt Heritage Properties. “Interest is intense, in part because the demand for cultural experiences and ecological knowledge is very high among residents and visitors today.”

The public forums take place in eastern, western and central PEI in early March. Questions to be addressed include:
What do you want your provincial museum system to be?
How do we ensure public involvement and consultation when major decisions are made concerning museums and heritage?
Do we need a moratorium on the proposed move of the museum storage facility?

Members of the public are encouraged to attend to provide their input about the future of heritage use, research, exhibition and education on PEI. Meetings will take place in Charlottetown on March 7 at 7:00pm in the Murphy Community Centre, 200 Richmond St., Room 205; in Miscouche on March 8 at 7:00pm at Musee Acadien, Route 2; and in St. Peters on March 13 at 7:00pm in the Dr. Roddie Community Centre.

For specific directions to the forums or to post comments/input, visit the PEI Museum blog at peimuseum.blogspot.com or email ourheritage@upei.ca.