| LITERACY, MUSEUMS AND THE ARTS |
| Reading the Museum |
| DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS • 1993-1999 |
ALBERTA
Partners: Glenbow Museum, Calgary and Partnership Approach to Literacy (PAL), Pincher Creek, Alberta Date: 1993 Coordinators: Jean Bruce, Canadian Museum of Civilization, assisted by Kathy Day and Carole Godreau, PAL, and Sandra Morton-Weizman and Linda Hawke, Glenbow Museum Description: Families researched, wrote and displayed their objects using the “FamilyTreasures” model developed by Jean Bruce. Other
Information:
Date: 1995 Coordinators: Sandra Morton-Weizman, Kirsten Evenden, Glenbow Museum Description: This was the literacy component of a larger initiative of community-based exhibitions about contemporary youth culture. Other
Information:
Date: 1995 Coordinator: Marie Lopes, Curator of Education, Edmonton Art Gallery assisted by Prospects Director Maureen Sanders, writing instructor and author Don Trembath, and Jennifer McVaugh, resource person Description: Adult learners wrote about art works in the gallery and produced Blue Ink in My Pen. Publication: Blue Ink in My Pen Other
Information:
Date: 1998 Coordinators: Barbara Parker and Sally Truss Description: Thirty-three second language learners wrote about and visually documented their memories and traditions. Publication: Handing Down Our History Other
Information: BRITISH COLUMBIA
Partners: British Columbia Forest Museum and Malespina University College, Duncan, British Columbia Dates: 1993-94 Coordinator: Kate Nonesuch, Upgrade Program, Malespina University College Description: Adult learners collected and wrote oral histories of the logging industry. Publication: Loggers, Wives and Sawmill Workers: Memories of the Cowichan Valley Other
Information:
Partners: Matqui-Sumas-Abbotsford Museum Society and the University College of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, B.C. Date: 1996-97 Coordinator: Lynne Wright Description: Adult learners developed a clear language guide to the museum based on interviews with local pioneers. Publication: Gift of Age Other
Information:
Date: 1998 Coordinators: Alecia Greenfield and Ramona Rose, Fraser-Fort George Museum Description: Second language learners did research and documented the immigrant experience for an exhibition about the region’s forestry workers. Included was a clear and plain language glossary of forest industry terminology. Publication: Hear Are Your Roots Selected
further information: ALECIA GREENFIELD. “Hear Are Your Roots.”
Reading The Museum Newsletter. Vol. 4, No. 2, December 1998,
p. 2-3.
Date: 1999 Coordinator: Gwaans (Beverley Clifton Percival) Description: Films on Gitxsan life and culture were used to encourage learners to write about and participate in museumrelated activities. Other Information: GWAANS. “Breath Of Our Grandfathers: The Story Continues…..” Reading The Museum Newsletter, Vol. 5, No. 2, November-December, 1999, pp 1,3. In 1999-2000, the Fraser-Fort George Museum (now Exploration Place) and the Fort St. James Carrier Band participated in a literary research project supported by the “Valuing Literacy in Canada” program of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. MANITOBA
Partners: Manitoba Children’s Museum and Literacy Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba Date: 1995 Coordinator: Nancy Newman Description: Adults and children explored several exhibits to create a series of written and visual works.
Partners: Musee Saint Boniface and Pluri-elles Inc., Saint-Boniface, Manitoba Date: 1995 Coordinator: Pierrette Boily, Curator, Musee St Boniface Description: Learners developed an exhibition for seniors that focused on the cultural importance of linguistic background and the value of oral history for developing pride in one’s heritage. Other Information: PIERRETTE BOILY. “Voices from the Past.” Reading The Museum Newsletter, Vol. 1, No. 1, March- April, 1995, p. 6-7. NEW BRUNSWICK
Partners: York-Sunbury Historical Society Museum and Literacy Council of Fredericton, Fredericton, New Brunswick Date: 1996-97 Coordinator: Betty Robertson Description: Learners from several literacy organizations helped develop the museum’s 65th anniversary exhibition. Publication: Literacy Resource Handbook Other
Information:
Date: 1998 Coordinator: Leanne French, New Brunswick Museum assisted by Brenda Jarvis, Read Saint John Description: Each adult learner, with assistance from their tutors, wrote a fictional story based on the collection of one the museum’s six galleries and children participating in several community programs provided illustrations. Publication: Six “Once Upon a Time” Stories Other
Information: NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Date: 1993 Coordinator: John Blondin Description: Learners wrote and performed a play about their cultural and personal experience using the collection and other resources of the Prince of Wales Centre. Other
Information:
Partners: Northern Life Museum and Aurora College, Fort Smith, Northwest Territories Date: 1996-97 Description: Adult learners recorded and preserved traditional knowledge and skills. Publication: Joint Report by Learners. See below Other
Information: NOVA SCOTIA
Date: 1995 Coordinator: Darcy Rhyno assisted by Jennifer McVaugh, resource person Description: This project recruited adult learners throughout the province to be nature reporters. Their hand written accounts of bird sightings and other observations were displayed over several months in “This Week in Nature,” a changing exhibit at the museum. Publication: Nova Scotia Nature Watch Other Information: DARCY RHYNO. “This Week in Nature.” Reading The Museum Newsletter. Vol. 2, No. I, March- April, 1996, pp.3,7.
Partners: Nova Scotia Museum and Adult Literacy Program, Halifax City Regional Library (North Branch), Halifax, Nova Scotia Date: 1993 Coordinator: Kilby McRae Description: Adult learners created a story quilt, based on an exhibition of old Nova Scotia quilts at the museum, and a book of writings about their personal experiences. Publication: Word of Mouth Other
Information: |
Partners:
Glenbow Museum, Calgary; Sir Alexander Galt Museum, Lethbridge; Medicine
Hat Museum and Gallery, Medicine Hat; Red Deer and District Museum,
Red Deer, Alberta 
Partners:
Edmonton Art Gallery and Prospects Literacy Association, Edmonton Alberta
Partners:
Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies and Bow Valley Literacy Program,
Banff and Canmore, Alberta
Partners:
Fraser-Fort George Museum, School District 57 and Immigrant and Multicultural
Services Society, Prince George, British Columbia. 
Partners:
‘Ksan Museum and Learners Opportunity Group Society, Hazelton, British
Columbia.
Partners:
New Brunswick Museum and Read Saint John New Brunswick
Partners:
Prince of Wales Heritage Centre, Native Theatre Group, several Aboriginal
Literacy Programs, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Partners:
Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History and Literacy Coalition of Nova
Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia |
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| Literacy Across the Curriculumedia Focus - Vol.17 • No.1, Pg. 19-22 | ||
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