Chris Clegg
The long-term future of the High Prairie Museum is now in town council’s hands.
Whether it will stay open on a limited basis, and for how many days each week moving forward, is to be decided.
A few of the areas every council struggles with when it comes to budgets is how much money to spend on recreation, economic development, tourism and museums. Money is set aside to build and upgrade the streets, get rid of waste, make clean drinking water, libraries and more. How much to spend on other matters is always a topic of debate.
Some money has to be set aside for recreation and libraries. One may as well fold up the sidewalks if there is not an established level of recreation and library services offered. How much is the million-dollar question, no pun intended.
Councils spend money on economic development and tourism with very mixed results. The problem is, it is very, very difficult to measure how effective tax dollars are spent. It is a proven fact advertising works, but how effective is up for debate and effectiveness subject to each individual’s interpretation.
For the sake of this editorial, it leaves us with museums. Councils throughout the region support museums. The provincial government also supports museums through a variety of grants.
The High Prairie and District Museum Historical Society turned over the museum to town council at the end of June. At council’s Aug. 12 meeting, council heard there were only four out-of-town visitors to the museum the first two weeks they opened until the second week of July.
When council debates putting money aside to keep the museum open, they should not look only at attendance. Museums are also entrusted to preserving and showcasing history. Rather than attendance, it is probably its most important mandate. If all the museums in northwestern Alberta used only attendance as a basis for staying open, few – if any – would stay open.
Museums are also the cultural heartbeat of each town. An active museum, such as High Prairie’s, promotes its culture, art and community organizations through displays. Support of Indigenous displays and a recent art show addition are a few examples. Recent celebrations of the High Prairie Royal Purple, the High Prairie Quilt Guild, and several book signings have occurred. Did hundreds of people come through the doors? No! The recognition and celebration of each event did, however, attach an undetermined value.
The History Page published each week on page 4 is one of South Peace News’ most popular features.
People are genuinely interested in history. The trick is for museums to offer programs and promotions which entice people to visit. It costs money, however, and councils have to decide how much.
Very few people want to see the High Prairie Museum close. It is an asset to the community if the initiative is taken to operate it effectively and work is done toward providing culture and programming.
To only consider attendance at the museum during budget considerations would be a disservice. All councils are to be reminded museums are much more than that!