IMAGINE THE FUTURE

Join the BCMA from May 13-19 in imagining a sustainable, inclusive, and vibrant future, not only for museums and cultural institutions, but for all British Columbians.

The past five years have been hard for museums, galleries, cultural institutions, and the people who work and volunteer in them. At the BC Museums Association, we increasingly hear from our members that people are struggling with burnout, overload, and a general lack of hope for the future. 

For BC Museums Week 2024, we are bringing our members together to imagine a better future, not just for museums but for the communities we support. 

Museums and cultural organizations are an essential part of building a vibrant, more sustainable, and more inclusive future. As people who love museums, we know the impact of our work, now it’s time to tell this story to all British Columbians and come together to imagine a brighter future!

Special Events & Highlights:

Monday

May 13

Imagine the Future Online Workshop

What does the future of museums look like to you? The BC Museums Association is working with its partners at the federal and provincial levels to advocate for a more vibrant future for our sector, and we need our members’ help to imagine what this future could be.

Join Executive Director Ryan Hunt for an opportunity to learn about BCMA’s current federal and provincial advocacy efforts and provide feedback on how we can better advocate for your needs. This free interactive online workshop will allow BCMA members and arts & culture professionals to provide critical feedback, engage in a lively discussion, and collectively imagine a brighter future for our sector.

When: 1-2 pm
Where: Zoom

Tuesday

May 14

National Museum Policy Position Paper Launches

This paper presents the collective position of the First Peoples’ Cultural Council (FPCC) and the British Columbia Museums Association (BCMA) on the urgent need for a new National Museum Policy (NMP) that centres on Indigenous rights and autonomy. This paper was developed in response to current work being undertaken by the Government of Canada to review and modernize the existing NMP, which was created in 1972 and last updated in 1990. FPCC and the BCMA have come together, walking alongside one another, to urge the Government of Canada to be fully engaged with and guided by the expertise of Indigenous Peoples, according to the principles of Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and in alignment with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), throughout the process of developing a new NMP.

National Museum Policy Position Paper

Wednesday

May 15

Lunch & Learn at the Royal BC Museum

Our colleagues at the Royal BC Museum have invited the BCMA team and any interested members to join them at their Lunch & Learn event on May 15: Advocacy and Activism. Dr. Tzu-I Chung and Yuxwelupton Qwalqaxala will talk about advocacy for and preservation of cultural heritage of diverse communities, and share about cross-cultural community discussions that support each other and create a better future for everyone.

The BCMA team would be delighted to see you at the Lunch & Learn and will host a meet & greet with refreshments right after, followed by a guided tour of RBCM’s new “Stonehenge” exhibit.

When: 12-3 pm
Where: Conference Hall, Royal BC Museum
Please let us know via email if you would like to attend.

Friday

May 17

New Resource: Annual advocacy calendar

Do you want to help advocate for a better future for BC’s arts, culture, and heritage sector but struggle to understand when is the most impactful time to use your voice? The BCMA has curated a short list of relatively simple, but highly impactful things you can do each year to make a big difference for our sector.

Explore!

Media Engagement

In 2024, the BC Museums Association is joining its members in imagining a bright future for the arts, culture, and heritage sector.

May 13-19 is BC Museums Week and on International Museum Day (Thursday, May 18), we call upon our members and anyone who is passionate about museums to both imagine a bright future for our sector and to take action today to help make it a reality.

Check out this customizable Media Kit to help with your own advocacy!

Saturday

May 18

International Museum Day

On International Museum Day, museums in BC and across the world will share special content related to this year’s theme, “Museums, Education, and Research,” underscoring our pivotal role in providing holistic educational experiences. Use the hashtags #IMD2024 and #BCMW24 on social media when sharing your museum day content and to follow the conversation.

Past BC Museum Weeks