<div dir="ltr">Hello,<div><br></div><div>Thank you to everyone who has already posted for #BCMuseums Week, we had a great start to the week on social media yesterday and there is lots ahead for today and the rest of the week! </div><div><br></div><div>Please take a look at our news release, sent out this morning. You can also view it on our website here: <a href="http://museumsassn.bc.ca/archives/5363/bc-museums-week-news-release/">http://museumsassn.bc.ca/archives/5363/bc-museums-week-news-release/</a> I have attached it as a PDF in case you are interested in sharing with your local media.</div><div><br></div><div>Thanks!</div><div><br></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%">May 15, 2017:<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;text-align:center;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%">CELEBRATE
OUR UNIQUE & DIVERSE HISTORIES, CULTURE AND HERITAGE<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;text-align:center;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%">BC
MUSEUMS WEEK MAY 14-21, 2017<span></span></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%">VICTORIA, BC – </span></b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%">The BC
Museums Association (BCMA) is pleased to announce that May 14-21, 2017 is declared
</span><a href="http://museumsassn.bc.ca/professional-development/upcoming-events/bc-museums-week/"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%">BC
Museums Week</span></a><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%">. BC Museums Week celebrates the contributions
of museums, galleries, historic sites, and other related heritage organizations
to BC’s communities and economy. BC Museums Week is perfectly situated within
the global museum calendar as it includes International Museum Day on May 18th.<span></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%">Many museums across the province are running special events or
programs for BC Museums Week. Examples include the BC Sports Hall of Fame and
Museum (Vancouver) remaining open late and by donation on May 18, Two Rivers
Gallery (Prince George) offering a Sunday Open Studio program and the Roedde
House Museum’s (Vancouver) exhibit, <i>Vancouver’s
Pioneers of Print</i>, in celebration of Asian Heritage Month.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%">The BCMA is also leading social media
discussions throughout the week using the hashtag #BCMuseums. <span></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%">“BC Museums Week is an excellent opportunity for BC museums, heritage
centre, galleries and cultural centres to celebrate and raise awareness
about their crucial role in preserving and making accessible the
province’s rich history,” says BCMA Council President David Alexander. “2017 is
a particularly exciting year for the museum community as we mark the 60<sup>th</sup>
anniversary of the BCMA and the 150<sup>th</sup> anniversary of Canada’s
Confederation.”<span></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%">Many museums across the province are undertaking legacy projects
to honour the province's unique and diverse histories, culture and heritage as
part of the <i>British Columbia | Canada
150: Celebrating B.C. Communities and their Contributions to Canada</i>
program, which is administered by the BCMA with support from Heritage BC.<span></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%">Show your support and appreciation for museums in whatever way you
like: visit your local museum, send a shout-out over social media (don’t forget
to use #BCMuseums), volunteer or make a donation to support the important work
museums do in building a culturally aware and inclusive province. <span></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%">About the BC Museums Association:<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%">Founded in 1957, the BC Museums Association represents the
institutions, trustees, professional staff and volunteers of the BC museum,
gallery and heritage site community. The BCMA supports the industry through
advocacy work, networking, an annual conference, and professional development
training opportunities such as regional workshops and webinars. </span><a href="http://www.museumsassn.bc.ca/"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%">museumsassn.bc.ca</span></a><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%"><span></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%">Contact:<br>
</span></b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%">Alyssa Polinsky<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%">BC Museums Association<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%">250.893.1311<span></span></span></p></div><div><div><br></div>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size:12.8px" color="#000000"><b>Ben Fast</b></font><div style="font-size:12.8px"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" color="#000000">Programs and Communications Coordinator</font></div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-size:12.8px"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-size:12.8px"><p style="margin:0in 0in 1pt;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:11pt"><span style="color:rgb(237,125,49);font-family:arial,sans-serif">BC Museums Association || 675 Belleville Street || Victoria, BC || V8W 9W2</span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 1pt;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:11pt"><span style="color:rgb(237,125,49);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:14.66px">Direct: <a href="tel:(250)%20686-2105" value="+12503565694" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">250-686-2105</a></span><span style="color:rgb(237,125,49);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:14.66px"> || </span><span style="color:rgb(237,125,49);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:14.66px">Office: <a href="tel:(250)%20356-5700" value="+12503565700" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">250-356-5700</a></span><span style="color:rgb(237,125,49);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:14.66px"> || <a href="http://www.museumsassn.bc.ca/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">www.museumsassn.bc.ca</a><br></span><span style="color:rgb(237,125,49);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:14.66px">Direct Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/benfaster" target="_blank">@benfaster</a> Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/BCMuseumsAssn" target="_blank">@BCMuseumsAssn</a> Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BCMuseumsAssn" target="_blank">BCMuseumsAssn</a></span><span style="color:rgb(237,125,49);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:14.66px"><br></span></p></div></div></div></div></div>
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