[BCMA] News Release: Provincial Heritage Sites Keeping Connected

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

Provincial Heritage Sites Keeping Connected

The unprecedented impact of COVID-19 is affecting all sectors of the Province of B.C., including the museum and heritage sector where many organizations have closed to the public or delayed summer season openings for the health and safety of the visitors, community, and staff. Museums and heritage organizations are adapting to reach their audiences and fulfill their mandates through digital interactives, live video demonstrations, or online teaching and learning resources.

While many of the Provincial Heritage Properties are temporarily closed, researchers and the public can continue to access the Provincial Heritage Artifact Database, a searchable web app featuring the provincial artifact collections. Launched last year, this portal has gained new relevance for enabling the provincial sites to share and connect with people during the isolation period of COVID-19.

The web app provides online access to over 70,000 historic artifacts and heritage buildings at Provincial Heritage Properties across B.C. It features photographs and artifacts with information about their history, original owners, creators, and manufacturers, etc. The web app is an example of the B.C. Government's commitment to provide public access to information through digital formats.

Heritage professionals have been delighted with this tool since its release in 2019. "Moving our collection of photographs, documents and artifacts into the digital world, allowed researchers to have access to multiple collections at once as they scroll through the many records of BC's history digitally" says Jo-Anne Leon, Executive Director of the Kilby Historic Site.

The web app features Provincial Heritage Properties such as Emily Carr House, Craigflower Manor, Craigflower Schoolhouse, The Grist Mill at Keremeos, Cottonwood House, Kilby General Store Museum, Historic Yale, Point Ellice House, Historic Hat Creek and Fort Steele. Barkerville will be added in 2020.

Check out the Provincial Heritage Artifacts Database web app: https://apps.nrs.gov.bc.ca/pub/heritageartifactcollection/

For more information please contact emerald.johnstonebedell at gov.bc.ca<mailto:emerald.johnstonebedell at gov.bc.ca>


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