QUÉBEC CITY, May 19, 2009 - The Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, today announced funding for online cultural projects that will help people access the collections of two Québec City organizations online.
"Canadians are looking to find more of the arts online, so they can see the exhibitions from a growing number of platforms," said Minister Moore. "These projects complement the investments our Government is making in arts and culture, by helping ensure that people can access quality content when they want, where they want."
Québec City's Musée de la Civilisation will receive funding for two projects: "Le Musée dans la Cité" will receive funding to explore ways to make the museum's collections more accessible to people who may not be able to visit the museum in person, and "Place-Royale d'aujourd'hui à hier: une exploration au coeur du Québec" will receive funding to create a Web-based exhibit about the history of this Québec City landmark.
"The virtual museum is an essential way of accessing our heritage, and this cultural project will allow people from far and wide to become better acquainted with the history of Place-Royale, the cradle of French America and heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site," said Claire Simard, Executive Director of the Musée de la Civilisation. "The other contribution will enrich an innovative project of the Musée de la Civilisation. Our extra-muros action is an exciting example of social museology and a promising path toward the future."
Additional funding for the Centre de l'environnement will help develop "Agir ensemble - Caring together," an online exhibit of the art, interior architecture, and animated films of artist Frédéric Back.
"Our website focuses on an internationally renowned Quebecois artist who spent his life immortalizing images to awaken people of all ages to beauty in the world," said Alexandre Turgeon, Executive President of the Centre de l'environnement. "For Frédéric Back, we are protecting what we know and what we have learned to love; all this, with awareness and respect. With "Agir ensemble - Caring together 2009 - 2010", the Centre de l'environnement is pleased to be able to pursue its work of creating awareness of environmental issues by planting new trees within the heart of this fantastic virtual space."
"Our Government is also helping to attract visitors--both virtual and real--to Canadian museums with the Virtual Museum of Canada," added Minister Moore. "Vacationers and 'staycationers' can explore Canada's art, culture, and heritage through online exhibits, images, and interactive resources at virtualmuseum.ca. This online resource will be even better when a renewed and enhanced Virtual Museum website comes online next week."
"Le Musée dans la Cité" will receive $64,000 from the Museums Assistance Program. "Place-Royale d'aujourd'hui à hier: une exploration au coeur du Québec" will receive $350,219 from the Partnerships Fund. And the Centre de l'environnement will receive nearly $275,000 from the Partnerships Fund.
The Partnerships Fund assists partnership initiatives between not-for-profit, public, and private organizations and institutions to connect Canadians with the riches of Canada's heritage by making Canadian cultural collections held by provincial, municipal, and local organizations available online. The Museums Assistance Program provides funding to Canadian museums and related institutions for projects that help ensure Canadians have access to diverse cultural heritage.
Deirdra McCracken
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
and Official Languages
819-997-7788
deirdra.mccracken@pch.gc.ca
Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
