A New Model of National Service for a National Museum:

A Work in Progress

• Research – Life Sciences and Earth Sciences • Collections • Public Education

To increase interest in, knowledge of, and appreciation and respect for, the natural world throughout Canada and internationally.

Mandate

• Canadian Museum of Nature

• National Consultation• Messages • Pilot Projects

• Vision and Strategic Plan

• Networks and Partnerships

• Alliance of Natural History Museums of Canada

• Federal / International Role

Vision Development … a consultative process.

Where could we be of greatest service and value?

What is uniquely ours to do?

Messages Back

Valuable perspectives on substance and approach.

• Make it bold • Create partnerships/ networks • Emphasize mutual strengths and asset-building • Create Canada’s story • Put people in the equation, as part of the natural environment • Focus on issues that matter

Experiments• Joint staffing – Bamfield Marine Station

• Exhibition development – Royal Botanical Gardens

• Special interest group through the Canadian Museums Association

• Taking advantage of location, proximity, access – NSERC

• Initiating national dialogue on collections responsibilities

• Polls

• Further consultations – internal and external

New Vision: Connecting People With Nature

• Emphasis on networks, partnerships, joint ventures • Focus on Environmental Change Through Time • Provide national service

• The GEEE! in Genome and the Nature of Humans Project

• Ice Age Mammals and the Fire and Ice Project

• Who Left the Tap On? and the Water Project

Projects and Partnerships - Exhibitions

Projects and Partnerships • Rideau River Biodiversity Project (Ottawa) and the Frenchman River Biodiversity Project (Royal Saskatchewan Museum)

• Working Group on Museums and Sustainable Communities (Canadian Centre for Biodiversity)

• Sila: Clue In To Climate Change (Centre for Traditional Knowledge)

• CineMuse Network

ROYAL BRITISH COLUMBIA MUSEUM • ROYAL ALBERTA MUSEUM • ROYAL TYRRELL MUSEUM • ROYAL SASKATCHEWAN MUSEUM • THE MANITOBA

MUSEUMBIODÔME, INSECTARIUM, JARDIN BOTANIQUE ET PLANÉTARIUM DE MONTRÉAL •

PRINCE OF WALES NORTHERN HERITAGE CENTRE • YUKON BERINGIA INTERPRETIVE CENTRE • NOVA SCOTA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

NEW BRUNSWICK MUSEUM • PROVINCIAL MUSEUM OF NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR • CANADIAN MUSEUM OF NATURE

• Speak with a single voice on issues of common interest• Encourage communication among members• Pursue joint projects

We are exploring working jointly in areas where we will have greater impact through combined efforts, such as: • Enhancing the visibility, recognition and benefit of natural history museums

• Increasing our influence on public policy and decision-making

• Collections planning and development to facilitate public and scientific access to collections information

Alliance (ANHMC) Projects: • Collections – survey • Communications

• internal (web links, server)• external (special events, lobbying)

• Programs (Miracle Planet, Environmental Film Festival)• Exhibitions – Fatal Attraction from the European Natural History Museum Network• Market Research

Alliance of Natural History Museums of Canada

Challenges:- Geography- A Virtual Organization- Membership- Collective/Individual Priorities- Shifts in Attitude/Approach for Members

beyond those most involved

Alliance of Natural History Museums of Canada

Planning for the future:•Strategic Planning Process

Focus on planning the

joint work that we

want to do

Canadian Museum of Nature

Planning for the future:• Plan from an assumption that projects are national not local• Priority for funding is given to national service and impact• Consistently ask: what would this proposed project/program look like with three other partners?• Sustained focus outward

Canadian Museum of Nature

Thank you to

INTERCOM and to

The Association of Czech Museums

and Galleries