SUNDRE — Provided plans line up as expected, renovations at the local museum should be done prior to the Family Day long weekend in February.
“We are going to modify the reception gallery by erecting a large internal wall which will be dedicated collection storage," said Jaime Marr, Sundre & District Museum’s executive director.
The project’s footprint will reduce the gallery’s available space by about one third, but will also improve collection storage as well as provide more opportunities for display change-outs, said Marr.
“These renovations are always done in the best interest of the collection so we can continue to operate using museum best practices for these precious historical objects,” she said by email in response to questions.
The cost is not anticipated to exceed the $20,000 mark, although the Sundre & District Historical Society’s board of directors was as of earlier this month still waiting to see what contractors proposed, she said.
“Our tender package allowed for some creative interpretation and there are a few different ways to create the desired outlook.”
Making the endeavour possible is the support of numerous local organizations, clubs and individuals. Additionally, companies that have and continue to contribute donated time, labour as well as materials, are recognized on the museum’s website, she said.
Additionally, she expressed gratitude to the federal government for COVID-19 emergency support funding that was made available by the Department of Canadian Heritage.
The pandemic brought into sharp focus the many small areas rural museums face with issues such as limited gallery space, collection care, and other safety concerns that are not often discussed during annual strategic planning sessions, she said.
“The COVID restrictions forced us to look at modifying the space so guests, staff, and volunteers were safe,” she said.
Since the virus was initially reported to remain live on different surface types for varying lengths of time, she said the society had to re-evaluate policies and procedures.
“With 80 per cent of our collection on display and within ease of touch and airborne particles, we knew we needed to get the collection behind glass.”
But of course purchasing, for example, new display cases, glass, lighting, storage shelves, archival quality collection handling materials, along with storage units, all costs money. Collection storage had already been identified as a need several years ago, and the society has a savings account with the intention of moving forward with a new addition to the gallery, specific to collection storage and archives, she said.
“Until the funds are raised however, (the renovations) will ensure a quick and necessary move so we can open our doors and continue to be a community facility for locals.”
The board hopes to have all interested parties submit proposals by noon on Dec. 25, and will then review the bids before making a decision some time between Dec. 27-31. Once the successful candidate has been notified, Marr said the work, which is expected to last a few weeks, could be underway early in the new year.
“With additional time being allotted for clean up, re-stocking, display set up, we hope the project will be done and ready for the public by the Family Day long weekend in February,” she said.
Plenty of peripheral preparation is required prior to letting the contractors into the building, she said, adding artifacts will have to be removed from the current locations into temporary storage, as well as update inventory, data entry and condition care reports.
Once the renovations are complete, a summary report is going to be drafted and that document will be available to the public, she said, explaining that as a non-profit entity, the museum operates transparently.
Asked whether any particular plans were being considered for the re-opening, Marr said the board continues to monitor the situation with regards to COVID-19.
“We hope that when we re-open, we can do so as we once did — gathering together as a community to celebrate who we are and what we have accomplished,” she said.
“However, to date nothing formal has been planned.”
But she said there eventually will likely be a formal re-opening with an invitation extended to primary stakeholders, political dignitaries, friends of the museum, partners, board members as well as volunteers, featuring perhaps a ribbon cutting, presentations, personalized tours and photo opportunities along with an open house for the general public.
“The renovations we are doing will ultimately benefit the future of our museum experience through increased programming and training opportunities, as we will have more opportunities to change out our displays, research, and conduct museum best practice in terms of conservation, display, accessibility, storage and management.”
