Government of Canada supports improvements to the Sinclair Inn Museum
News Release
Government of Canada supports improvements to the Sinclair Inn Museum
Annapolis Royal, N.S. - The Government of Canada today announced a combined investment of $221,097 through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and Canadian Heritage to support upgrades and restoration work at the Sinclair Inn Museum. The Museum is owned and operated by the Annapolis Heritage Society. The facility is the oldest Acadian structure in Canada and offers visitors a unique glimpse into Acadian life in the 1700s.
The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency is providing a $146,194 non-repayable contribution to the project through the Innovative Communities Fund (ICF), and Canadian Heritage is contributing $74,903 to the project under the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund. The Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage is also contributing $25,000 to the project.
More than 30 years ago, a historic mural painting, believed to date back to 1841, was discovered when water damage revealed images lining the wall of a second floor room in the building. In 2014 the society began the process of removing the wallpaper which covered the historic mural.
The central element of the project is the restoration of this mural. Over a period of five months, an art conservation team will work to restore the mural to as close to its original condition as possible. The conservation work will be filmed, and a documentary video of the process will be produced and screened for the public as part of the exhibit. An interpretive display, to be located in the room where the mural is located, will also be created.
The project also supports infrastructure enhancements which are underway throughout the building: repairs and painting of woodwork and walls; the installation of heat pumps, new carpeting and a climate control system; upgrades to safety features such as the fire detection systems, emergency exits and doors; improvements to the electrical system; strengthening of the floor; and the addition of new lighting.
Quotes:
“The Government of Canada is committed to working with organizations like the Annapolis Heritage Society who preserve and promote the history of our communities. Investments such as these will guarantee the museum is part of the community for years to come, providing a historical place for education that will benefit the local economy as an attraction for residents and tourists alike.”
- The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage
“The investment made here today at the Sinclair Inn Museum will ensure that Annapolis Royal keeps its colourful and rich heritage alive, bringing residents closer together. Investments such as these are critical to the preservation of historic sites, which benefit community hubs like these that are the heartbeat of our rural communities.”
- Colin Fraser, Member of Parliament for West Nova
“The Sinclair Inn Museum is a unique and treasured tourist destination in Nova Scotia, and it plays a very important role in the area. This investment will help preserve a significant cultural landmark and strengthen the fabric of the community, giving local residents and visitors a true taste of the province’s Acadian roots.”
- Communities, Culture and Heritage Minister Tony Ince
"The Annapolis Heritage Society's conservation of the painted wall murals of the Sinclair Inn Museum is a project of national importance. The Society's efforts in preserving, promoting, and presenting this irreplaceable artifact of cultural heritage would not be possible without the generous support of the community and all levels of government."
- Bill MacDonald, President, Annapolis Heritage Society
Associated Links:
- Annapolis Heritage Society website
- Annapolis Heritage Society Facebook page
- Annapolis Heritage Society Twitter page
- Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, Canadian Heritage
- Atlantic Growth Strategy
Contacts:
Alex Smith
Director of Communications and Outreach
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
(902) 426-9417
(902) 830-3839 (cell)
Email: alex.smith@canada.ca
Carley Sampson
Media Relations Advisor
Communities, Culture and Heritage
(902) 424-6454
(902) 478-9203
Email: Carley.Sampson@novascotia.ca
Wayne Morgan
Project Manager
Annapolis Heritage Society
(902) 286-2018
Email: morgan.wayne@gmail.com
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Hon. Navdeep Singh Bains Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Society and Culture History and Archaeology
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