After 100 years of protecting thousands of exhibits and sharing countless stories, the Museum of Northern BC required some upgrades to its security and HVAC systems. To support the $866,292 project budget, the Northern British Columbia Museum Association (NBCMA) successfully applied to Northern Development for a $200,000 Cultural Infrastructure grant. This Spring, the project was completed, setting the museum up for a comfortable summer season of welcoming visitors.
As a collector of world-class artifacts and archival materials, it is essential for NBCMA to have strictly controlled environmental conditions through a reliable HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning) system. A portion of this project went towards replacing the outdated HVAC system, which was dated and no longer able to be supported with parts or service.
The remainder of the $1.1 million project resulted in the nearly 30-year-old security system being replaced with a modern upgrade. This will protect the invaluable collections and support NBCMA as they carry the responsibility of preserving its collection of Northwest Coast cultural heritage.
Beyond improving the venue as it protects its contents, the two new systems will significantly reduce operational costs as the duo are energy efficient and require less energy to operate. NBCMA plans to repurpose these cost savings to provide more diverse museum programming, including events and exhibits, for visitors and additional employment opportunities for the community.
Northern Development’s Cultural Infrastructure program supports the creation of, or improvement of, arts, heritage, culture, and creative innovation spaces with grants to a maximum of $300,000. Projects that receive funding through the program improve access to professional arts and cultural facilities for residents and visitors.
