Museums Revitalization
City of Greater Sudbury staff have been directed by City Council to develop a Museums Revitalization Plan. The Plan will include recommendations to support our current heritage assets and will provide a vision for the future of Museum Services.
As detailed in the attached Council report and presentation, Greater Sudbury Museum Services has operated four museum sites with limited resources, since 2001, when the city amalgamated. These limited resources result in challenges when it comes to delivering programming to the community in a safe and accessible manner while meeting provincial standards for community museums.
In developing this Plan, staff will examine six areas (outlined in previous reports) that will aid in the future strategic planning of Museum Services:
- Current Operation Challenges and Opportunities
- Vision and Strategy
- Sites and Facilities
- Artifact Conservation and Storage
- Governance and Structure
- Staff Resources
The City recognizes the value museums bring to the community and believes that with the right supports in place, Museum Services will continue to preserve our rich heritage and offer meaningful services.
Update – November 14, 2022
City staff completed the draft Museums Revitalization Plan which was scheduled to be presented to Council on November 8, 2022. It has been deferred to the November 30, 2022 Council meeting to allow for newly elected Council members to participate in the discussion.
Staff are bringing three main recommendations to Council:
• Increase the Museums Section operating budget to provide for the addition of two full-time permanent staff to address the shortfall of skilled resources required to meet community expectations, industry standards and perceived service levels.
• Increase the operating budget to address increased costs in maintenance and provide financial support for the required external storage for a portion of the artifact collection.
• Appoint an Advisory Panel to provide advice and contribute to the creation of short and long-term plans, formulate the museums’ statement of purpose, assist with creating written policies specific to operating standards, and recommend programming to be delivered to the community.
These recommendations are outlined in the Council report and draft Museums Revitalization Plan: https://pub-greatersudbury.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=6970addb-d843-432c-963b-d5c2d68cbea4&Agenda=Agenda&lang=English&Item=81&Tab=attachments.
The purpose of the report is to provide Council and the public with a draft plan for comment. It also provides the basis for a business case that Council could consider as part of the 2023 Municipal Budget, pending Council’s November 30 direction.
Residents are invited to provide feedback on the Museums Revitalization Plan. Share your input in the Ideas section below until December 16, 2022.