‘A devastating blow’: N.S. is closing 12 of its 28 provincial museum sites

Museums in Nova Scotia are worried as several grants that fund them will be cut.

The Nova Scotia government is closing 12 of its 28 provincial museum sites, stating “the system has grown complex and increasingly difficult to maintain.”

The news comes as Nova Scotia grapples with a $1.2-billion deficit. The province says the estimated repair costs for the 12 closed museums is $1.6 million and the closures will save the government $980,000 annually.

The following museum sites will close:

• Cossit House in Sydney
• Lawrence House in Maitland
• McCulloch House in Pictou
• Perkins House in Liverpool
• Prescott House in Port Williams
• Ross-Thomson House in Shelburne
• Shand House in Windsor
• Barrington Woolen Mill in Barrington
• Sutherland Steam Mill in Denmark
• Wile Carding Mill in Bridgewater
• Fisherman’s Life Museum in Oyster Pond
• North Hills Museum in Granville Ferry

It appears the 12 museum sites have already been removed from the Nova Scotia Museum website.

In a statement, the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage said it considered several factors, including attendance and changing visitor expectations, when deciding which sites to close.

According to the department, attendance has been low at the 12 sites, with some only drawing 1,000 visitors a year – accounting for 3 per cent of total attendance across the Nova Scotia Museum system.

“These 12 museums combined averaged 15,932 visitors per year over the last five years,” said a spokesperson in an email.

It also noted Nova Scotia has more provincial museum sites than any other province, with 28 sites and more than 240 buildings.

“As a result, we need to adapt and focus our efforts where they will make the most difference,” said the department in the statement.

“These closures will allow us to prioritize museums and programs that reach more people. These are difficult decisions, and we recognize the impact on employees and their families. We’re grateful for their service and the care they’ve shown in sharing the stories that reflect our province. “

As for objects at the museums, the province says some may remain within the Nova Scotia Museum system, while others may be transferred to other institutions or community organizations. The province says it will oversee the collection of items “according to professional museum standards.”

It isn’t yet clear what will happen to the sites once they close.

‘A devastating blow’

The executive director of the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia says she’s disappointed about the closures, saying the sites are part of why people love visiting the province.

“We’re really saddened and, to be honest, quite frustrated to hear this because we know that tourism is a huge industry,” said Emma Lang.

“People come here to learn about our history, learn about our culture, and learn about our environment, and this is a devastating blow to our ability to protect that, to our ability to share that and for the next generation, to learn about it.”

Brett Wefer worked at Perkins House Museum in Liverpool for four years as a summer student and says he learned a lot from the job.

“I don’t think it’s fair that rural communities are having to sacrifice their culture and their economy and their tourism for a budget that was not balanced,” he says.

“To lose that house, you lose a lot of the history. It will impact a lot of businesses, I feel, in town because they’ll lose out on the tourism that Perkins House draws in.”

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) adds the province is increasing the debt at an “extreme pace.”

“If you want to keep these museums open, you have to deal with the debt problem, because the debt interest, that is rising to $1 billion this year, is crowding out the ability to fund other programs,” says CTF’s Ontario director, Noah Jarvis.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Callum Smith

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