MUSEUM DEVELOPING NEW COLLECTION INFORMATION SYSTEM

Released on February 21, 2005

The Royal Saskatchewan Museum (RSM) is developing a new collections management system that will improve its ability to share information about its collections with other institutions, researchers, educators and the public.

The project was made possible, in part by the Government of Canada, which provided $96,506 in support through the Canadian Arts and Heritage Sustainability Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage. The province is providing up to $128,612 in museum staff time and has spent $14,000 for a computer server and two work stations. The Royal Saskatchewan Museum Associates, the museum's "friends" organization, is also contributing $46,848 for the initial phase of the project.

"Our Government is committed to ensuring that Canadians have greater access to the arts, culture, and heritage," Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Status of Women Liza Frulla said. "Digitizing this collection will allow for more of the stories and treasures entrusted to the museum to be shared with people from this province and beyond."
"This new system will better enable the museum to preserve valuable information, both data and images, for the public and future generations," Culture, Youth and Recreation Minister Joan Beatty said. "It will also enhance public access to collections through the Internet."

The project involves installing a new computer-based system for the management of information about objects the museum collects, studies and preserves. Once new software and hardware upgrades are in place, museum staff will be better able to conduct research and develop exhibits using its collection records.

Financial support is provided by the Department of Canadian Heritage through the Capacity Building for Heritage Organizations component of its Canadian Arts and Heritage Sustainability Program (CAHSP). CAHSP's objective is to support modern management and greater financial stability in arts and heritage organizations. This national program improves conditions for cultural organizations in local Canadian communities.

Since its establishment in 1906 the RSM has acquired several million specimens and artifacts that represent an irreplaceable record of Saskatchewan's living and fossil natural history, and its First Nations and Métis culture, both past and present. Besides the actual physical collection, the information and documentation about those objects is also both extremely valuable and often irreplaceable, and this system will ensure the information is preserved.

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For More Information, Contact:

Penny Pedersen Culture, Youth and Recreation Regina Phone: (306) 787-2850

Angela Cassie Department of Canadian Heritage Winnipeg Phone: (204) 983-4367