Ontario is strengthening the creative economy by helping cultural and heritage institutions harness new technology to attract visitors and make local heritage more accessible.
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport provides support for technology projects at community museums, art galleries, archives and heritage organizations with provincial and regional mandates through the Museums and Technology Fund. In 2009-2010, 43 organizations will share in $1 million of funding through this program.
Arnprior & McNab/Braeside Archives - $10,000.00
"AMBA Online: Past Meets Present"
The Arnprior & McNab/Braeside Archives will undertake a project to increase the amount of information on its holdings that would be available online. Presently, there is limited information that can be accessed from the website and only 2,000 images from its collections can be viewed online. Over the past few years, the archives has completed the data entry and records update for all objects in its collections database, and now wants to make this database accessible through the Internet. The project entails the purchase of a new computer system, the purchase and installation of software to migrate the database to the internet, training for staff and volunteers on using the software, and extending the staff archivist's time to participate in the training session.
Bata Shoe Museum - $35,000.00
"Interactive Educational Touchscreen Shoemaking Exhibit"
The Bata Shoe Museum will develop a custom-designed software program that will allow visitors to use touchscreen technology to design a shoe by selecting shoe piece templates, colours and textures based on artefacts in the museum's collection. This educational exhibit will feature six shoe prototypes (an oxford, a sandal, a sneaker, a high-heeled shoe, a boot, and a moccasin) and will provide information about the different parts of a shoe and different decorative techniques. The exhibit will incorporate video clips, text and contextual images that will pop-up as a visitor navigates the process of creating a virtual shoe. Visitors will be able to send via email an electronic postcard containing the image of the designed shoe to themselves, or someone else. At the end of the experience, visitors will be directed to artefacts in the museum that have similar colours, patterns, textures and shapes to the ones that they have designed. The exhibit will be housed in a kiosk containing three touchscreens, including one at a height accessible by children and visitors in wheelchairs.
Black Creek Pioneer Village- $12,000.00
"Freeing Ontario's Past: Moving BCPV's system to Online Cataloguing"
Black Creek Pioneer Village will update its existing DOS-based artefact database to one that is accessible over the internet for both data entry and retrieval. The current database is technologically obsolete and limits the ability of BCPV to attach digital images to the collection records and to give image files meaningful customized names. Furthermore, the impending closure of the Canadian company supporting the existing database would leave BCPV stranded for technological support. As a result of its in-depth needs analysis, BCPV has identified a Canadian software product that would be suitable for meeting its collection management needs.
Bothwell-Zone Oil Museum - $800.00
"Getting People Connected with their Community"
The Bothwell-Zone Oil Museum will create an online presence for the organization through the development of a website with accompanying online exhibition and teacher's resource guide geared towards the elementary and secondary school curricula. The website will also include a section to promote historic local guest lectures and other revenue generating events hosted by the museum. This project arose from discussions with local teachers and other local non-profit organizations to determine the best manner for providing information about the museum. It was felt that online delivery of information would enable the museum to regularly update and add to the website.
Bytown Museum - $34,000.00
"Bytown at Your Fingertips"
The Bytown Museum will research and digitize parts of its collection in order to make the information available online for public access. Activities include: researching the collection using the museum's library and archives, compiling findings by topics and into a logical timeline, digitizing a selection of artefacts for online presentation, and developing a web interface that will employ social media for increased interaction with the public. The "Bytown at Your Fingertips" site will be hosted by the Council of Heritage Organizations in Ottawa / le Conseil des organismes du patrimoine d'Ottawa (CHOO/COPO) as a pilot project on their existing Heritage Gateway website. The museum will use the project and its results as a template and best practice for other heritage organizations wishing to research and digitize their own collections, libraries or archives. The resources would also be used by CHOO/COPO in offering training and workshops in the local heritage community.
Canadian Canoe Museum - $15,000.00
"Driving Productivity"
The Canadian Canoe Museum will upgrade its existing technological infrastructure by purchasing and implementing new computer workstations, a network server, design software, and a point-of-sale system for tracking sales and admissions. The existing technology at the museum is unreliable and inefficient, and needs to be replaced with up-to-date technology in order to maximize productivity and efficiency.
City of Hamilton, Culture Division - $42,000.00
"Public Access eMuseum Project for the City of Hamilton"
The City of Hamilton's Culture Division will provide a new method of public access to the Hamilton civic museums and their collections. A virtual tour with dynamic zoom would be created for each of seven civic museums, incorporating 360-degree high resolution photographs of each of the rooms in each museum. This will total approximately 132 panoramas, on which hot points will be created so that a visitor can select an artefact in the virtual tour, load a close-up photograph of the object, and access additional information about it from the collections database. It is expected that there will be approximately 650 clickable artefacts across all tours. Each room and artefact hot point will have a brief interpretive text and audio clip to further explain its significance. The goal of the virtual tours is to provide the visitor with access to all of the same information that they would have received had they physically toured the museum.
Collingwood Museum - $14,500.00
"Say Smile: Digitization of the Collingwood Museum Collection, Phase 1"
The Collingwood Museum will digitize 3,600 photographs and 500 postcards from its collection, and attach these digital image files to the artefact records in its electronic collections management database. Each object will be photographed once with the resultant image saved in three size formats for future uses: archival and print use (high resolution), display and research purposes (medium resolution), and web and database use (low resolution). This project will help the museum to preserve some of its most fragile and delicate objects from deterioration due to over-handling, as the public will be able to access and purchase reproduction images from the museum's website.
County of Lennox & Addington Museum - $32,000.00
"E - History made in L & A"
The Lennox and Addington County Museum and Archives will digitize half of its photograph holdings, develop an online history of Lennox and Addington County, and an online history education program with resources. This project will increase the number of online resources available to researchers, educators/teachers, students and the general public, and help to increase the profile of the area. At present time, there are no online resources on the organization's website and the archives serves 800 requests annually. As part of this project, the museum and archives will upgrade its computer information terminal to a touchscreen centre with more interactivity.
Deseronto Archives - $16,000.00
"About Deseronto"
The Deseronto Archives will build a community website that will allow individuals to share their photographs and reminiscences, and to comment on other people's stories, as a way to engage the community and to connect with those who have moved away from the region. This will encourage local residents to share their personal histories and possessions , and to make these private collections available to a wider audience. The project will be an extension of the archives' efforts to use technology to engage audiences, as it currently maintains a blog, and uses Flickr and Twitter to share information about its activities and collection.
Diefenbunker - Canada's Cold War Museum - $18,000.00
"Diefenbunker's Visitor Management System"
The Diefenbunker will acquire and implement a visitor management solution to address an anticipated significant increase in visitation once it has completed its $1.5 million fire retrofit in March 2010. Visitor capacity will increase from 60 to 500 as a result of the retrofit, allowing for increases in guided school and group tours, use of the cafeteria, hours of operation, visitor services, and program offerings. The new visitor management system will enable the Diefenbunker to integrate its box office, group reservations, room rentals, public programs, membership and store sales into one software program for use on-site and online. It will also allow multiple users to access the system simultaneously to process fees, track tour bookings, market programs and products, and access statistical reports on visitation. This project will result in increased operational efficiency for the Diefenbunker while enhancing its online capacity for marketing, ticketing and gift shop sales.
Dundas Historical Society Museum - $2,700.00
"Photograph Digitization Project"
The Dundas Historical Society Museum will digitize half of its photography collection of approximately 3,000 images that include daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, postcards, photographic images and negatives, and glass plate negatives. These images span the period 1840 to 1990, and document family life, street scenes, local business and industry, urban development, the military and key events in the history of the Town of Dundas and its residents. As part of the project, the museum will review existing digital content (1,500 images) relating to the photograph collection to ensure appropriate quality.
Elgin Military Museum - $800.00
"Laptop / Projector Purchase"
The Elgin Military Museum will purchase a laptop computer and LCD projector in order to increase its capacity to deliver multimedia presentations to visitors on-site and off-site. At present time, the museum is restricted in its ability to deliver high quality presentations due to its reliance on borrowed equipment which may not have the required software or connections, or is incompatible with the presentation file. The acquisition of new technology will address these concerns and better position the museum to deliver engaging presentations to a wide range of groups.
Fanshawe Pioneer Village - $22,000.00
"Creating Digital Content - Phase 1"
Fanshawe Pioneer Village will create digital content for use on its website and for future interactive tours. The project will digitize a selection of archival photographs, research papers and images, and information on artefacts. It will also involve the development of a new website that would include new photographs of the site, a series of video "info moments" illustrating the work of the village, and restricted access sections for staff, volunteer and board use. This work is the first phase of a three-phase project which will result in the overhaul of the village's website and online offerings while supporting the implementation of a new interpretation master plan for the site.
Federated Women's Institutes of Canada: Adelaide Hunter Hoodless Homestead NHS - $1,200.00
"Website Upgrade"
On behalf of the Adelaide Hunter Hoodless Homestead NHS, the Federated Women's Institutes of Canada will redevelop the Homestead's website in order to add more content and technical functionality. Revisions being made will include: an online newsletter, an application for purchasing memberships, and information on its educational programs. The redesigned website will also position the Homestead to develop online exhibits in the future. At present time, the Homestead's website offers basic information, and is hindered by the requirement that the website be hosted using dial-up internet service due to its rural location.
Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art - $24,000.00
"New Website for Gardiner Museum"
The Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art will redevelop its website in order to introduce new technologies such as Flash and online financial transactions, and to support a new web-based marketing strategy. This strategy has resulted from a reduction in the museum's marketing budget due to restructuring. The existing website was created in 2003 and offers information on the museum's programs, exhibitions, classes and workshops, and podcasts. While membership sales and donations can be done online, these transactions do not occur in real-time. The new website will allow these activities and payment transactions to be conducted in real time.
Glanmore National Historic Site - $12,000.00
"Glanmore National Historic Site Virtual Tour"
The Glanmore National Historic Site will create a virtual tour that will feature the exhibits and collections displayed throughout the site, but particularly on the second and lower levels. The Glanmore does not currently have a physically accessible building so the virtual tour will enhance public accessibility. The virtual tour will be shown at a computer kiosk on the main level to provide visitors with the opportunity to see the entire museum. It will also be made available on the museum's website to reach a broader, international audience.
Grey Roots Museum and Archives - $36,000.00
"The Good People Educational Program"
Grey Roots Museum and Archives will develop a new education program for Ontario school children that presents Aboriginal identity, heritage and culture from an Aboriginal perspective. This educational resource will support and build on a exhibition titled "The Good People: Stories of the Anishinabe". This project will engage the Elder community in the presentation of Aboriginal knowledge and culture through videotaped personal interviews and oral histories. Educators and teachers will be engaged in the development of an accompanying learning guide. The final products of the project will be uploaded to the Grey Roots website, and will include a complete educational program with video, lesson plans and supporting documents.
Halton Region Museum - $18,000.00
"Escarpment Halton Discoveries - Online (Virtual) Exhibition"
The Halton Region Museum will develop an interactive virtual exhibition entitled "Escarpment Halton Discoveries" that will illustrate the cultural and natural heritage features of the Halton portion of the Niagara Escarpment, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. This online exhibit will provide educational opportunities on sustainability and "greening" while promoting conservation and preservation measures.
Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery - $22,000.00
"Social Media and Tourism Promotion Through the Get Off On Art.com Website"
The Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery (KWAG) will develop additional functionalities for the GetOffOnArt.com website, including the introduction of social media marketing, joint tourism packages, and search engine optimization. These new features will extend the usefulness of the website as a marketing tool for the KWAG, the Cambridge Galleries, the Homer Watson House & Gallery, and the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery. The project will engage a regional artist to research and develop strategies for tapping into the right social media opportunities in order to target marketing efforts to specific demographic audiences. The individual will also be contracted to create and maintain web content through a visual arts blog and e-newsletter, and to establish the administrative procedures and partnerships necessary to ensure longer term sustainability of the initiative.
Lambton Room - $19,000.00
"A Story Through Time Continued: Warwick Township Digital Archives"
The Lambton Room will create an online archive of the rural history of Warwick Township. This will entail the digitization of the archival collection, and the creation of a website to house the primary research, materials, audio clips and photos that were gathered during the development of the publication "Warwick Township: A Story Through Time". The project will enable access to materials not included in the original publication due to space limitations. Visitors will be encouraged to submit their own images, documents and stories to the site, as well as to help in identifying people and places in digitized photographs.
Lucan Area Heritage and Donnelly Museum - $36,000.00
"Voices of the Past"
The Lucan Area Heritage and Donnelly Museum will install permanent interactive technology-based displays in its new museum. This will enable the museum to present information about the Wilberforce Settlement and Donnelly history in a sensitive and accessible manner, using audio-visual sound corridors to present alternative viewpoints from members of the divided community. Using the new displays to tell the stories from various viewpoints will engage visitors and demonstrate the impact of intolerance on a community. The assistive technology will also enable the museum to provide close captioning, audio devices, and text in larger print.
Meaford Museum - $38,000.00
"Collections Data Digitization Project 2010"
The Meaford Museum will purchase and implement its first electronic collections management database, and upgrade its existing computer systems in order to support the new software. Currently, collection records are kept in a combination of paper and electronic formats that employ a variety of numbering systems and have limited search capability. Migrating to a new and comprehensive collections management system will allow for all artefact records to be housed in one program, to be regularly backed up, to have standardized information fields, and to be searchable. It will also increase the efficiency of staff who are assisting researchers with requests for information.
Minden Hills Museum - $42,000.00
"Haliburton County Museum Technology Partnership"
The Minden Hills Museum will carry out a project to establish electronic collections management systems for heritage organizations in Haliburton County. Partner organizations include: the Agnes Jamieson Gallery, RD Lawrence Place, the Stanhope Heritage Discovery Museum, and the Arts Council - Haliburton Highlands. As part of the project, hardware and software (including an electronic collections management database) will be upgraded, training will be provided to staff, and cataloguing and digitization of the collections will completed. Training in collections management will also be offered to other heritage and cultural workers in the region who are not directly involved in the project. Since each of the partners currently employs a different method for organizing its collection records, the project will also help to standardize collections management in the municipality and to build their capacity for further collaborations.
Moore Museum - $9,400.00
"Moore Museum Website and Introductory DVD"
The Moore Museum will create a dedicated website and an introductory DVD to introduce and orient visitors to the museum. At this time, the museum has a limited online presence through a basic listing on the municipality's website. By maintaining its own website, the museum will be able to better control and update the information published online, and to use the website as a marketing vehicle. The project will also better position the museum for future growth in the areas of online program delivery through virtual exhibitions, online curriculum, and downloadable podcast tours. The introductory DVD will help in orienting on-site visitors to the museum and its 11 buildings by providing detailed background information beyond what is currently available in their walking tour booklets.
Museum of Health Care at Kingston - $15,000.00
"From the Collection: An Online Feature"
The Museum of Health Care at Kingston will create an online template for use in featuring objects from its collection on its website. Since only a small portion of its collection is displayed for viewing at any given time, the project will enable the museum to provide more interpretation for a wider range of artefacts. It will also help to enhance public understanding of the history and science of health and health care.
Nepean Museum - $8,700.00
"Access to the Past - A Content Management System"
The Nepean Museum will migrate its existing website to a content management system. Switching to a dynamic web platform and providing training on its maintenance will enable staff to make updates directly without external assistance, and will address inefficiencies in its current website. The museum's online needs have exceeded the capacities of its current website. In order to grow the site and to make its collection management records accessible online, the museum must redevelop its website using a new program or framework. The new content management system will also enable the museum to develop online exhibitions, provide online educational programming, and to host a bilingual website as it is the only museum in the National Capital Region that does not currently provide services in both official languages.
Niagara Historical Society & Museum - $46,300.00
"Niagara on the Eve of War"
The Niagara Historical Society & Museum will develop an online exhibition featuring an interactive map of Niagara-on-the-Lake from 1810 that allows visitors to explore the community and to gain insight into the town. This virtual exhibit will portray Niagara on the eve of the War of 1812, and is planned to launch in time for the Bicentennial in June 2012. The exhibit will connect with Web 2.0 tools such as YouTube to generate interest in the Bicentennial activities, and to provide additional information on the War of 1812 and its impact on Niagara.
North American Black Historical Museum & Cultural Centre - $16,500.00
"Black Museum Technology Project"
The North American Black Historical Museum & Cultural Centre will purchase and implement new technological equipment and software, including a new collections management database and electronic point-of-sale system. By upgrading to current technological standards, the museum will be able to find efficiencies in processing transactions, managing its collection, and managing its records.
Ontario Association of Art Galleries - $15,000.00
"Art Institutions and the Feminist Dialectic"
The Ontario Association of Art Galleries (OAAG) will develop a web portal (Art Institutions and the Feminist Dialectic) that facilitates interactive access to presentations and conversations by eight Canadian artists and visual arts professionals. The portal will focus on the unique challenges and opportunities faced by Ontario's public art galleries, archives, universities and other public institutions in exhibiting, acquiring and preserving feminist artwork. This project builds on an earlier symposium on the topic hosted by the OAAG.
Ontario Genealogical Society - $19,000.00
"Preserving Ontario's Heritage: The Tweedsmuir Histories"
The Ontario Genealogical Society will carry out a project with the Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario to identify and digitize all of Ontario's Tweedsmuir Histories. The project will entail the purchase of hardware and software, the hiring and training of staff, and their travel to various destinations in order to digitize fragile objects on-site. The Tweedsmuir Histories are a collection of 989 books created in the 1940s by branches of the Women's Institute to document local history. These books include a history of the local settlers in the area, the agricultural practices and industries that formed the basis of the local economy, the social institutions such as churches, schools and community centres, and local personalities. For many small communities, the Tweedsmuir History is the only history created, and contains newspaper clippings, personal reminisces, photographs and personal artefacts.
Ontario Museum Association - $50,000.00
"Museum Technology Sector Support Project - Regional Forums, Tech On-Site, and Online Help"
The Ontario Museum Association will deliver regional digitization forums, on-site digitization assistance, and online help. A key focus of this project is providing professional development training for museum workers on digitizing their collections. This will be done through regional workshops, and focused one-on-one training. Individuals may also follow-up and request help from OMA staff by accessing an online technical help portal. The project will help to improve the technological capacity of the museum sector.
Ottawa Art Gallery - $20,000.00
"Online Access to the Firestone Collection of Canadian Art"
The Ottawa Art Gallery will develop a web-based exhibition of its historical Firestone Collection of Canadian Art, which contains approx. 1,600 works of art by a number of influential Canadian artists. It will re-conceptualize an earlier exhibition (Le Salon) into a virtual format that will showcase the works and their artists. The online exhibition will include digitized images of the 93 selected works, artist biographies and curatorial writings on the relevance of their works in Canadian art history, an art historical timeline, two to four informational videos by lecturers familiar with the collection, an interactive educational section, and an online discussion forum.
Owen Sound Museums - $40,000.00
"Public Accessibility"
The Owen Sound Museums will purchase and implement new touch-screen kiosks to increase public accessibility to Billy Bishop Home and Museum, and the Owen Sound Marine & Rail Museum. This will also enable the museums to provide access to a wider range of objects and photos that would not normally be displayed. Since the kiosks are meant to be portable, the museum anticipates being able to use these for outreach programming to seniors centres, schools and malls.
Red Lake Regional Heritage Centre - $38,000.00
"Red Lake Immigration Study - an Online Exhibit"
The Red Lake Regional Heritage Centre will develop an online exhibition about Red Lake's immigrant experience. The virtual exhibit will feature over 50 immigrant biographies, as well as photos, artefacts and archival records showing how new immigrants found their way to Red Lake. It is estimated that approximately 8,000 to 10,000 immigrants came to Red Lake to seek their fortune since the gold rush started in 1925. The exhibition will acknowledge the contributions of these individuals to the economic and social development of the community. Today, approximately 50% of Red Lake's population of 5,000 people is made up of first generation immigrants and their descendents. This online exhibit represents one component of a three-year project about Red Lake's immigrant population.
Robert McLaughlin Gallery - $28,000.00
"Permanent and Thomas Bouckley Collections Digitization Project"
The Robert McLaughlin Gallery will digitize its permanent collection, which includes 4,000 works of fine art and 3,000 images of historic Oshawa. Since only a portion of the collection is exhibited at any one time, digital images of the entire collection can be made available to the public through the gallery's website once the project has completed. In addition, the digitized images will be attached to the individual collection records. In this searchable format, future exhibit development will be made easier since the works will not have to be handled as often.
St. Marys Museum - $36,000.00
"Collections Management Upgrades"
The St. Marys Museum will purchase and implement a collections management database, and digitize its collection. At present time, the museum's collection records are in hard-copy format, and an electronic collections management system will consolidate the records into a searchable, printable and updatable format. The new database will also enable the museum to attach digital images of the objects in its collection. As part of the project, the museum will develop online educational modules for its website.
Textile Museum of Canada - $39,500.00
Social Fabric"
The Textile Museum of Canada will use Web 2.0 tools to create an interactive online destination that will enable dialogue between the Museum and its public. Social Fabric will be a platform through which the public can contribute knowledge and share experiences related to textiles. It will provide audiences with a deeper understanding of how different threads intertwine to tell a larger, multi-faceted story of a textile. The website will feature 50 objects from the TMC collection with each object paired with four provocative questions designed to elicit responses in the form of videos, audio recordings, images and text. There will also be an interactive in-gallery component with real-time, real-space engagement with the website and the textiles on display.
Université de Hearst - Centre d'archives - $42,000.00
« Les archives de la Grande Zone argileuse nord-ontarienne »
The Université de Hearst - Centre d'archives will catalogue and digitize its archival collection. A capital project is underway to build a new archival centre. Since the collection will need to be moved, the archives will properly catalogue and digitize the items to better manage its collection, and to document its state prior to the move.
University of Toronto - Justina M. Barnicke Gallery - $32,000.00
"Contemporary Art in Canada 1965-1980 Online Exhibition and Database"
The Justina M. Barnicke Gallery will develop an online exhibition and database to document an important and groundbreaking period in contemporary Canadian art (1965 to 1980, Conceptual Art). This will launch in conjunction with a cross-Canada touring exhibition later in 2010. The project will digitize information that has been stored in hard copy, in small individual databases, and in files and boxes, and make it available to the public. This project will be carried out in partnership with the Centre for Contemporary Canadian Art (CCCA) and the following four museum collaborators across Canada, each of which will be hosting the touring exhibition: the Vancouver Art Gallery, the Art Gallery of Alberta, the Leonard and Bina Ellen Gallery at Concordia University, and the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design.
VanKleek Hill & District Historical Society - $21,000.00
"Electronic Information and Innovation Management"
The VanKleek Hill & District Historical Society will purchase and implement computer equipment and software to centralize the museum's business records and collection records, to develop a bilingual website, and to create online and DVD-based videos featuring its walking tours. The museum has recently opened for its first season, and is in the process of setting up its technological infrastructure.
Wallaceburg and District Museum - $2,600.00
"Preserving the Past for the Future"
The Wallaceburg and District Museum will purchase and implement a new collections management database, and develop a website that will be able to support online access to the database. The new website will feature artefacts from the museum collection that would normally be in storage, through an add-on web module for the new database.
