The Three Pillars for 2023

Janis Kahentóktha Monture

The Canadian Museums Association is in a time of revitalization. Like many museums and cultural heritage sites across the country the pandemic has left many of us reflecting on what the future holds. That is true for the Canadian Museums Association as well, especially as the association starts to implement the recommendations that came out of the Moved to Action report released in September 2022.

As I start my tenure here as the Executive Director and CEO of the Canadian Museums Association, I wanted to focus on three main pillars for the work ahead. Upon reflection I really drilled into what the associations’ vision of “Stronger museums. Engaged citizens. A better Canada” intended, how to activate this for the year ahead, while keeping in mind the Report recommendations and how to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The first pillar of focus will be Relationships. Listening and learning from our members supports our strategic priorities for the sector, our advocacy work and how that might inform the new National Museum Policy.

A relationship with the Federal government is also key. The reciprocity of communication between the CMA and the team coordinating the NMP allows us to inform our members, advise on areas of expertise and helps this process become more comprehensive and visible.

We also look forward to growth by developing more relationships with those in the private sector, building meaningful partnerships and diversification.

Relevance is the second pillar. We need to cultivate and maintain relevance for our members and potential members. It is vitally important that the association ensures that member needs are being met, especially as we come out of the pandemic, which has taken a large toll on the museums and other cultural institutions in this country. We will continue our advocacy and research efforts to help us better understand the continued relevance of reports and guidance we offer are still relevant and where they need updating.

The final pillar is Sustainability. In my early weeks speaking to various individuals, sustainability has been a huge concern for many. Concerns around financial sustainability in the sector, particularly the the lack of multi-year funding. For some museums, the COVID relief funding or supplemental funding received was welcomed so many could keep their doors open but the latest Federal budget shows restraint, and therefore a challenge for museums to maintain their financial footing.

I’ve also heard about the sustainability of our workforce, and the burnout many workers are enduring.

Finally, and most importantly, the Canadian Museums Association needs to prioritize the museum and cultural heritage sector response to the climate change crisis, supporting museums as they green their processes as well as support their communities in times of catastrophic weather events.

I’m looking forward to the year ahead and I will ensure that these three pillars: relationships, relevance and sustainability, are the key areas of strategic priorities for the sector and to hold up our members in this year ahead. M

Janis Kahentóktha Monture is the Executive Director and CEO