Institute of Island Studies receives Heritage Award

In recognition of an outstanding contribution to the preservation of the heritage of Prince Edward Island, the PEI Museum & Heritage Foundation presented a Heritage Award to the Institute of Island Studies on Heritage Day 2008.

Citation as read at the presentation,

18 February 2008

The possible move of the provincial museum's storage facility - the Artifactory - to a new location in Murray River sparked a debate on the role and function of heritage in our province.

Though the rhetoric and passion displayed were interesting - and even entertaining - to witness, there was the danger that it might amount to just that - rhetoric and passion. But the Institute of Island Studies was able to give the debate some form and shape. By organizing a series of public forums, the Institute was able to focus debate and create an environment where the question became more than the simple one of where the Provincial Museum should have its storage facility. The debate goes on, and we don't yet know where it will lead us, but there is now more public interest in the future of heritage than there has been for many years in our province. An interest that would not be so great - or focused - as it might have been without the Institute's participation. In recognition of this, we are pleased to present a Heritage Award to the Institute of Island Studies.

UPEI institute asks province to wait on artifactory

as published at cbc.ca Tuesday, March 6, 2007

The P.E.I. government should wait for more public input before moving the facility that holds the province's artifacts, says the Institute of Island Studies.

The University of Prince Edward Island-based institute is arranging a series of public meetings to discuss a proposal to move the artifactory from Charlottetown to Murray River, in the premier's home riding.

"Much of what is in the museum storage facility now has been donated by regular Islanders," Irene Novaczek, director of the institute, told CBC News Monday.

"We would imagine that anyone who has donated an artifact to the provincial system, or who was thinking of it, would be interested in having some input."

The artifactory is used to store — but not display — provincial artifacts. The move will cost about $4 million. The current artifactory is leaky and overcrowded, putting some artifacts at risk.

The decision to move the artifactory to Murray River has been controversial, with some historians and former museum staff arguing what the province really needs is a new provincial museum where the artifacts can be displayed. They also want to see it built in Charlottetown.

The institute has invited members of the provincial government, including Premier Pat Binns, to attend the public forums. While the meetings are being held to hear what the public thinks, the Institute of Island Studies has already made up its mind.

"We would like to see [the move] reconsidered in light of the many things that a museum can do, the absence of a central provincial museum of natural history and culture, and what the move of the artifact storage to Murray River would mean in terms of future development of the museum system," said Novaczek.

The first meeting is Wednesday at the Murphy Community Centre in Charlottetown. Other meetings will be held in Miscouche on March 8, and in St. Peters March 13.

Novaczek says the results will be written in a report and forwarded to the premier.

Public Meetings Concerning PEI Heritage & Museums

The Institute of Island Studies will be hosting a series of public meetings to bring museum and heritage panellists together with the public to discuss the current museum/artifactory issue. We will gather information on what the public’s perceptions, concerns, and positions are on this matter, and make this information publicly available. We believe that Islanders should have a say in defining policy for museums and heritage.

Community members from all PEI counties are encouraged to attend; meeting dates are as follows:

• Charlottetown: March 7^th, 7pm Venue TBA

• Miscouche: March 8^th, 7pm at Musee Acadien. This forum will be facilitated in both French and English.

• St. Peters: March 13^th 7pm at Dr. Roddie Community Centre

------------------------------------

Dr Irene Novaczek

Director, Institute of Island Studies, University of Prince Edward Island

550 University Avenue, Charlottetown PE, Canada C1A 4P3

"Do we need a moratorium on the proposed artifactory move?"

by -- Irene Novaczek, Executive Director, IIS

The Institute of Island Studies will host a series of public forums in early March to facilitate discussion around several questions : 

• "Do we need a moratorium on the proposed artifactory move?" and
• "An Island Museum? What do provincial museums have to offer?"

A meeting will be held in each county in order to encourage public
discussion on:

• 1) Why create a museum "hub", to support the decentralized system of seven community museums?

• 2) What is the value of offering a new venue for cultural and natural history education to Island students?

• 3) How do museums work to deliver research, interpretation, education, conservation and exhibitions to serve various needs on PEI and,

• 4) re: the proposed Artifactory move to Murray River: should a solution to storage needs be advanced before the development of a comprehensive, long term Strategic Plan for PEI's Provincial Museum system?

The IIS wishes to bring museum and heritage professionals together with the general public to discuss the current museum/artifactory issue. We will gather information on what the public's perceptions, concerns, and positions are on this matter, and make this information publicly available.  Our initiative addresses the need for Islanders to have an opportunity for consultation and discussion on public policy for heritage conservation and the use of history to inform our needs for future sustainability.


Sincerely yours
Irene Novaczek, Executive Director, IIS