A
wonderful perk of working for the Alberta Museums Association is the
opportunity to travel across the province and experience various communities and
their regional museums. The site visits we conduct with member institutions
allow us to meet people involved in all aspects of museums as staff,
volunteers, or board members. Last year, Lauren Wheeler and I were fortunate enough
to also meet the community members whose stories and passions are exhibited
within the museum walls. At the Musée de St. Isidore, located very close to
Peace River, the truly unique history of the township is shown throughout the
museum and can be experienced in the attached community complex. At the time of
our visit, the museum had not yet opened its doors to the public, but other
tenants in the Centre culturel de St. Isidore could already see their lives and
work directly reflected in the museum.
The Alberta Museums Association's Community Engagement Initiative (CEI) works towards incorporating community engagement into the programs & services of the AMA and the general practices of the Alberta museum community. CEI supports museums by demonstrating the importance of community collaborations as a viable path toward sustainability. This blog provides tools & resources to support museums in creating & maintaining meaningful connections with communities.
