Twelfth International Conference on The Inclusive Museum

Abstract

Urban centres and smaller communities on the Canadian prairies have been experiencing a range of environmental, socio-cultural, and economic changes, from droughts, floods, and poor water quality, to high rates of out-migration, rising pluralism, and chaotic periods of financial boom and bust. Using document analysis, semi-structured interviews, and other qualitative methods, this project examines how initiatives undertaken by community-engaged museums can foster creative change and adaptations that enhance personal and collective well-being through sustainable community development. While each community faced a unique set of circumstances, our findings point to a number of thematic similarities, including the need for alternative funding models and easier access to grants that would supplement what is currently available. Another common theme was around available human resources, specifically in regards to volunteers and the ability to attract new or younger community members to assist in organizing and participating in heritage projects. A third theme was access to public services such as health care, grocery stores, or education. These were seen as vital for sustainability since they are required to maintain the local population and attract new members. The final theme was memory, with each community expressing a desire to capture both the historical knowledge and local memories in ways that are meaningful to community members and showcase what makes the town unique. As a result of this project, one community has gained profile for its public engagement activities, including with local Indigenous communities, and ecomuseums are now being set up in two other locations.