RE-ORG project overview: Qualicum Beach Museum

The Qualicum Beach Museum took part in the RE-ORG: Canada (West) training program in 2017–18. Their mixed collection of 2000 objects was stored in a space measuring 55 m².

Project leads: Lorraine Bell and Kathy Dobinson

Main storage challenges

• There was limited room for collections because the space was also being used as a multipurpose area (Figure 1).
• Non-collection items were stored with the collection in a designated collections space (Figure 2).
• There was no designated area for collection processing.
• Shelves were underutilized, and it was difficult to access collections (Figure 3).

Project details

Within a year, the Qualicum Beach Museum was able to make the following storage improvements:

• They cleaned and reconfigured all designated collection storage spaces.
• They relocated old shelves and installed new ones with integrated drawers for smaller items (Figure 4).
• They relocated non-collection material to a new designated area (Figure 5).
• They recovered dispersed collections and relocated them to the main storage area.
• They installed an air conditioning unit to maintain lower temperatures on hot summer days.
• They created specific areas for collections-related work (such as processing and temporary holding).
• They constructed custom-built slotted storage for framed collections (Figure 6).
• They installed a wall rack and hooks for hanging objects (Figures 7 and 8).
• They elevated large objects off the floor by storing them on pallets (Figure 9).

The project took approximately 11 months to complete with the help of no more than 5 team members during phases 1 to 3 and 9 team members during phase 4 (Table 1).

The RE-ORG project cost $23,602 to complete, with less than half being allocated to staff time and external services (Table 2). More than half of the budget was spent on tools and storage furniture. The Qualicum Beach Museum was also successful in securing a $10,000 grant from the Museums Assistance Program for the project.

Based on the RE-ORG Self-evaluation Tool for Collections in Storage (PDF Version), the Qualicum Beach Museum made improvements in all four components of RE-ORG: “management,” “building and space,” “collection” and “furniture and small equipment.”

According to the results in Table 3, the “management” and “furniture and small equipment” components experienced the largest improvement with an increase of 43% and 42%, respectively (Figure 10).

Lessons learned

Based on the experience of the Qualicum Beach Museum, the following should be considered in future RE-ORG projects:

• Do not underestimate the importance of having someone available who is handy with tools. RE-ORG projects can include repurposing old materials, so having an individual with carpentry skills could help you successfully reach your objectives without affecting your project timeline.
• Communicate with the board and management, whenever possible. RE-ORG projects do not happen overnight. They can be large undertakings, so having your board or management’s support is essential. RE-ORG projects also provide measurable results. By keeping your board or management informed, they can observe the improvement as it unfolds, which can assist you in obtaining additional financial resources in the future.
• The general public rarely gets a glimpse behind the scenes at museums. Sharing your RE-ORG project and experience with your community will educate the public and generate interest in the overall work of the museum.

Additional resource

• ICCROM web page describing the RE-ORG method