Yukon Continues To Support Yukon Museums

FOR RELEASE #07-056
April 12, 2007

WHITEHORSE – Tourism and Culture Minister Elaine Taylor has announced there will be a funding increase of $150,000 in 2007-08, subject to legislative approval, to assist Yukon museums with their operations.

“Our museums, interpretive and First Nation cultural/heritage centres give us a sense of our roots and contribute to our identity as Yukoners,” Taylor said. “We are fortunate to have many world-class institutions where visitors can learn about our culture and history, and Yukoners can celebrate their own contributions and accomplishments.”The $150,000 increase will bring the Yukon government’s total Operations and Maintenance support for Yukon museums to $843,000 for 2007-08.

Discussions with the museums sector are also underway to review special project funding levels, with the view of reallocating funds to further strengthen their operation needs. The Museums Strategy Advisory Committee will play an advisory role in allocating all new funds.

“This increase in funding will assist our museums to remain active participants in Yukon’s cultural and heritage community,” Taylor said, noting that together with special initiative funding, total direct government support to Yukon museums will be more than $1.25 million.

The new funding tops off a strong record of government support for the museums sector. The Yukon government is pleased to support the MacBride Museum with its expansion plans for a total of $729,000. In addition, the Community Development Fund (CDF) provided $68,000 for the expansion project with an additional $199,000 of CDF funds supporting exhibit development costs.

“The Yukon government supports MacBride’s long time aspirations of an expansion that would address programming and exhibit needs that ultimately contributes to the further development of the Whitehorse waterfront,” Taylor said.

Taylor added that government recognizes that Yukon museums, interpretive and cultural/heritage centres are pressed to balance their roles as educational organizations against the need to attract visitors through their exhibits, artifacts, photos, dioramas and programs.

“Yukon museums entertain, educate and reveal Yukon’s history and heritage through its stories,” Taylor said. “The Yukon government is pleased to be able to assist these important collective guardians of our history with additional funding that will help support their endeavors.”

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Contact:

Roxanne Vallevand
Cabinet Communications
(867) 633-7949
roxanne.vallevand@gov.yk.ca

Karen Keeley
Communications, Tourism and Culture
(867) 667-8304
n.keeley@gov.yk.ca