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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span lang="EN-CA">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span lang="EN-CA">March 16, 2017<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span lang="EN-CA"><span> </span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size:14pt">BC Museums
Association Takes To The Road With Hands-On Learning Opportunities<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span lang="EN-CA">Spring workshops focus on storage and
re-organization, de-accessioning and visitor-focused programming</span></b><span lang="EN-CA"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span lang="EN-CA"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span lang="EN-CA">VICTORIA, BC – </span></b><span lang="EN-CA">The BC Museums Association (BCMA) is
visiting communities across the province with hands-on learning opportunities
that will give museum staff and volunteers practical skills to help them better
manage their collections and attract more visitors. <br>
<br>
<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span lang="EN-CA">Spring cleaning
for museums? Absolutely! BCMA is pleased to partner with the Canadian
Conservation Institute to bring the RE-ORG storage management program to <b>Parksville (March 16). </b>In the three
days before this conference, RE-ORG: Canada West participants, including Haida
Gwaii Museum, Greater Vernon Museum and Archives and Qualicum Beach Museum, have
worked together to reorganize a storage room at the Parksville Museum as a way
to put their learning into action and provide support to the Parksville Museum.
</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="background:rgb(249,249,249)"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span lang="EN-CA"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span lang="EN-CA">As museum
collections grow, storage space can become limited causing a strain on staff
time and resources. Luc Demarais will visit <b>Abbotsford (March 19)</b> and <b>Quesnel
(April 30)</b> to help small museums lay the groundwork for collection clean-up
and de-accessioning. Luc will discuss issues such as policy, inventory and the
ethics of disposal to make sure organizations are set up for success before
they start on the long road to de-accessioning.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span lang="EN-CA"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span lang="EN-CA">Building new
audiences and converting occasional visitors into returning visitors and
members is key for the ongoing success and survival of community museums. Kim
Gough and Pamela Morris will be in <b>Dawson
Creek (May 25)</b> to help participants use the Design Thinking process to
create new programs with visitors, instead of for them. This process is
scalable for different types and sizes of organizations, and uses empathy,
ideation and experimentation to arrive at innovative solutions that visitors
want. <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span lang="EN-CA"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span lang="EN-CA">“BCMA helps
museum staff and volunteers gain practical skills in the business of running a
museum,” says BCMA Executive Director Erica Mattson. “This is a fantastic
opportunity to learn from the best, and participants will return to their
organizations with new ideas and knowledge.” <span> </span><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span lang="EN-CA"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:15pt;background:white;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span lang="EN-CA">Collections
management and storage are critical issues for B.C.’s museum sector. In Canada,
it is estimated that the 37% of storage facilities were inadequate and
that 93% of storage areas would be full <span class="gmail-aqj"><span style="z-index: -1;"><span tabindex="0" style="z-index: 0;">within 10 years</span></span></span> (source: <a href="http://www.camdo.ca/depot/1/Collections_surveySondage_Oct2010.pdf" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(5,99,193);text-decoration:underline"><span style="color:windowtext">Collections Survey 2008/2009</span></a> by
the Canadian Art Museum Directors' Conference (CAMDO)).<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span lang="EN-CA"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span lang="EN-CA">Full workshop
descriptions and registration information are available at <a href="http://museumsassn.bc.ca/professional-development/upcoming-events/regional-workshops/" style="color:rgb(5,99,193);text-decoration:underline"><span style="color:windowtext">http://museumsassn.bc.ca/professional-development/upcoming-events/regional-workshops/</span></a><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><i><span lang="EN-CA"><span> </span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><i><span lang="EN-CA">We gratefully acknowledge the
financial assistance of the Province of British Columbia and the support of the
Sikh Heritage Museum, the Quesnel & District Museum and Archives and the South
Peace Historical Society.<span></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span lang="EN-CA"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:center;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span lang="EN-CA">-30-<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span lang="EN-CA"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span lang="EN-CA"><span> </span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background:white;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span lang="EN-CA">Quick facts<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;line-height:normal;background:white;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span>The BC Museums Association has over 400
members located in communities across B.C.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;line-height:normal;background:white;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span>Total revenues for B.C.’s museums sector are
estimated at over $213 million annually. <span></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;line-height:normal;background:white;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span>An estimated 4,000 people are employed by
B.C.’s museums sector.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;line-height:normal;background:white;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span>Over 21,000 volunteers provide over 1 million
hours of volunteer work each year.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;line-height:normal;background:white;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span>B.C. museums attracted over 8.6 million
visitors in 2013, with an additional 21 million online visits to museums’
digital collections and programming.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;line-height:normal;background:white;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span>20,348 school groups visited B.C. museums in
2013.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;line-height:normal;background:white;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span>The collections of B.C. museums include over 4
million artifacts and objects, 663,896 linear meters of textual records, close
to 12 million graphic materials, over 53,000 natural history/scientific
specimens, 36,307 hours of film, video and sound recordings and 2,093 permanent
exhibitions.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background:white;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><i><span lang="EN-CA"><span> </span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background:white;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><i><span lang="EN-CA">Source: Government of Canada Survey of
Heritage Institutions: 2015 <span></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background:white;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size:14pt"><span> </span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span lang="EN-CA">About the BC Museums Association:<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span lang="EN-CA">Founded in 1957,
the BC Museums Association represents the institutions, trustees, professional
staff and volunteers of the BC museum, gallery, cultural centre and heritage
site community. The BCMA supports the industry through advocacy, networking, an
annual conference and professional development training opportunities such as
regional workshops and webinars. For more information about the BCMA and its
activities, please visit <a href="http://www.museumsassn.bc.ca" style="color:rgb(5,99,193);text-decoration:underline"><span style="color:windowtext">www.museumsassn.bc.ca</span></a><span class="gmail-MsoHyperlink" style="color:rgb(5,99,193);text-decoration:underline"><span style="color:windowtext"> . </span></span><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span lang="EN-CA"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span lang="EN-CA">Contact:<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span lang="EN-CA">Erica Mattson,
Executive Director <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span lang="EN-CA">BC Museums Association<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span lang="EN-CA">Tel: 778.679.4568<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="mailto:emattson@museumsassn.bc.ca" style="color:rgb(5,99,193);text-decoration:underline"><span style="color:windowtext">emattson@museumsassn.bc.ca</span></a><span></span></span></p><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-size:12.8px"><font size="2"><b><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)">Erica Mattson</span></b><br></font></div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-size:12.8px"><font size="2">Executive Director<br></font></div><font size="2" style="font-size:small;color:rgb(136,136,136)"></font><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="2"><span style="color:rgb(237,125,49);font-family:Arial,sans-serif">BC Museums Association <span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">|| <a href="https://maps.google.com/?q=675+Belleville+Street%C2%A0+%7C%7C%C2%A0Victoria,+BC+%7C%7C%C2%A0V8W+9W2&entry=gmail&source=g" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">675 Belleville Street || Victoria, BC || V8W 9W2</a></span></span></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 1pt"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><font size="2"><span style="color:rgb(237,125,49)">Direct: </span><span style="color:rgb(237,125,49)"><a href="tel:(250)%20356-5694" value="+12503565694" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">250-356-5694</a> || </span><span style="color:rgb(237,125,49)">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)"> || <a href="http://www.museumsassn.bc.ca/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">www.museumsassn.bc.ca</a></span></font></span></p></div></div></div>
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