(Winnipeg, MB: June 25, 2021) At its Annual General Meeting, the Manitoba Museum reported an unprecedented year of rapid transformation and dynamic adaptation.
The creativity and dedication of the Museum team, along with support and encouragement from the community, allowed the Manitoba Museum to re-think how it operated. New technologies were implemented, programs were re-imagined, and new ways of thinking, working, and communicating were adopted.
The Museum Galleries and Planetarium were temporarily closed for almost six months; the Science Gallery and the Museum Shop remained shuttered for the entire year, and exhibitions were postponed or cancelled. As a charitable organization, the Museum relies on visitors, donors, and grants to survive and be sustainable. Planning for both the immediate future and the years it would take to recover from the impacts of COVID-19, sadly meant laying off many staff and pulling back on ambitious plans. A smaller hard-working team remained to continue to do research, care for the collections, and move to the virtual delivery of Museum content, programs, and events.
Staff from all Museum areas worked together to shift to a hybrid of digital engagement and in-person visitation. Museum-lovers from around the world, no longer limited by geography, were offered content and experiences through the newly developed [email protected] initiative. School groups and home learners appreciatively participated in curriculum-based Virtual Field Trips. The weekly virtual live astronomy program, [email protected], was among the most popular offerings of the year, as the world looked to the skies for comfort and inspiration during a year of great uncertainty.
Behind closed doors, work continued on the Bringing Our Stories Forward Capital Renewal Project. By spring 2021, more than 50% of the Museum Galleries were transformed, culminating with the Welcome Gallery, a stunning preview of the incredible Manitoba Museum journey; and the new Prairies Gallery, which reveals a deep and layered view of history, exploring geology, biodiversity, ecology, human connections to the land, and how the past has shaped the present. In these new spaces and throughout the Galleries, historical and contemporary stories of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities are celebrated while bearing witness to the legacy, experiences, and impacts of colonialism.
Near the end of the year, the Museum said farewell to Claudette Leclerc, who retired after 23 years as the Executive Director and CEO. The Museum Board of Governors, staff, and volunteers thanked her for decades of exceptional leadership and her unwavering commitment to the community. The new CEO Dorota Blumczyńska took over the leadership role in early May.
“The Manitoba Museum recognizes there is a lot of work to be done to deepen our relationships with all communities; ensure all feel welcome, represented, and celebrated; and make certain that what we show and what we say honours the truth of the past. The Museum is committed to being an agent of change, actively contributing to reconciliation, advancing social justice, climate justice & environmental education, and creating spaces for intercultural dialogue. We’re also committed to conducting scientific research in areas such as geology, biodiversity, and ecology, enhancing our natural and human history collections, and offering dynamic programs and exhibitions. This important work, we believe, will contribute to a just existence for all communities.,” says Blumczyńska.
The 2021-2022 Board of Governors includes: Penny McMillan, Chair and Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee; Brigitte Sandron, Vice-Chair and Chair of the Executive Committee; Douglas Tkach, Treasurer and Chair of the Finance and Investment Committees; Jeoff Chipman, Secretary and Chair of the Capital & Endowment Campaign; James Cohen, Past-Chair and Chair of the Nominating & Governance Committee; Kathryn McBurney, Chair of the Revenue Committee; and Sam McLaughlin, Chair of the Human Resources & Compensation Committee. Board members at large include: Linda Burch, Scott Craig, Cora Jalonen, Dwight MacAulay, Maureen Matthews, Mike Radcliffe, Diane Redsky, Cindi Steffan, Jackie Wild, and Dorota Blumczyńska, CEO (ex-officio).
The Manitoba Museum is grateful to the staff and supporters that ensure its vision of expanding knowledge, sharing stories, and encouraging discovery is realized.
