Public reaction should be swift and punishment severe if the move goes ahead
by John Eldon Green - special to The Guardian - Oct 2, 2006
Recently a 96-year old friend urged me to write in opposition to the proposed move of the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation’s artifactory to south Kings, which pains her greatly. I readily agreed because I share her opinion. As a consultant, I completed several projects for the heritage sector and have a fair understanding of the issues.
Clearly, the proposed move is all about politics, unrelated to heritage concerns. The artifactory has little to do with economic activity wherever it may be located, other than during the construction period. With only a 3-person staff, it is not set up for display purposes, or to undertake interpretation programs, or receive visitors. It is simply a high level warehouse for heritage items in long-term storage. Working with regional museums, staff help assemble and upgrade programs, but don’t display.
If the proposed move to South Kings goes forward, the movement of artifacts between the facility and the various museums will become more costly, more difficult, with the certainty of decreased use and program renewal. Considering the low level of visitations to the regional museums, there will simply be little visitor interest in the replacement warehouse. It will be a big building, out of place wherever located, and with no other role in the community.
One gets the notion that the relocation of the conservatory is intended as a political legacy for an electoral district. If so, the district could do much better if even a fraction of the proposed expenditure were invested in true development projects in the district, where real economic activity would be increased, bringing about a new flow of visitors, continuous local spending, and new employment. Giving a community the artifactory would be much like giving a kid a bucket of sand.
A number of years ago a different government moved the Hospital and Health Services Commission to Montague, a move which immediately increased administrative costs, without any corresponding service gain whatever. Travel-costs for Charlottetown-based staff had to be shared by government, which had not been the case prior to the move. The same will have to happen if the artifactory in relocated; for the likelihood is that staff will not live in South Kings, or bring spending power there. There will be no new jobs for local people because of the special skills required in operating the facility.
This proposal shows little respect for the museums system as the conserver of our history, carefully nurtured though poorly funded for over 35 years. Public reaction should be swift and the punishment severe if it goes forward. In fact, such a decision would be so tainted by short-term political advantage that it would make a strong case for still another electoral map so that this kind of government decision-making can be properly addressed at the polls.
John Eldon Green , is a former deputy minister in the PEI government and a long-term management consultant.
Showing posts with label Ella Wood Willis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ella Wood Willis. Show all posts
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Saturday, February 24, 2007
We need a central museum
as published in The Guardian, Feb 24, 2007
ELLA WOOD WILLIS Charlottetown, life member, Heritage Foundation
Editor:
Concerning the need for a provincial museum located in Charlottetown, I would like to add my voice to the many who have spoken in favour of such a museum.
During the past week, I listened via CBC to Dr. Edward MacDonald and Mr. Ian Scott discuss the need for a provincial museum and I was impressed with their knowledge of the whole subject. Following their presentations, I heard Premier Binns discussing his plans to move hundreds of artifacts currently stored in West Royalty to Murray River at a cost of approximately $4 million. I question the wisdom of this plan and instead would urge for the creation of a central museum.
During my working years, there was a great effort made to collect antiques for the ‘dreamed of’ museum. Two women in particular, whose efforts need to be remembered and recognized, are the late Irene MacLeod Rogers and the late Ruth Heartz MacKenzie, who worked tirelessly to find and preserve antiques for Government House, Beaconsfield and the archives. Since Premier Binns did not come to P.E.I. until the early 1970s, he may not be aware of this heritage and the value of these irreplaceable antiques. It is my plea that the efforts of so many people not be used for political gain.
ELLA WOOD WILLIS Charlottetown, life member, Heritage Foundation
Editor:
Concerning the need for a provincial museum located in Charlottetown, I would like to add my voice to the many who have spoken in favour of such a museum.
During the past week, I listened via CBC to Dr. Edward MacDonald and Mr. Ian Scott discuss the need for a provincial museum and I was impressed with their knowledge of the whole subject. Following their presentations, I heard Premier Binns discussing his plans to move hundreds of artifacts currently stored in West Royalty to Murray River at a cost of approximately $4 million. I question the wisdom of this plan and instead would urge for the creation of a central museum.
During my working years, there was a great effort made to collect antiques for the ‘dreamed of’ museum. Two women in particular, whose efforts need to be remembered and recognized, are the late Irene MacLeod Rogers and the late Ruth Heartz MacKenzie, who worked tirelessly to find and preserve antiques for Government House, Beaconsfield and the archives. Since Premier Binns did not come to P.E.I. until the early 1970s, he may not be aware of this heritage and the value of these irreplaceable antiques. It is my plea that the efforts of so many people not be used for political gain.
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