FAQ
What is the purpose of the engagement?
A province-wide engagement will bring together people, communities and groups that have a vested interest or unique perspective in the conversation. The process will actively seek input and engagement from British Columbia community organizations, leaders (from youth to elders), artists, scholars, and residents of South Asian heritages. These ideas and contributions will shape the museum’s vision and ensure that the engagement process is relevant and meaningful to the communities participating.
What will be the outcome of the engagement?
This phase’s focus is on the overall vision for the museum, including its name and location. The vision, that will be shaped by diverse individuals and communities of South Asian Canadian heritages during this preliminary phase, will inform later phases of planning regarding important thematic and curatorial details. Thematic and curatorial work will not be the focus of this phase.
Has any engagement happened so far?
On April 13, 2023, Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport hosted a gathering with more than 120 community leaders and stakeholders to raise awareness about the project and collect preliminary feedback about how to engage communities. Building on that input, the Ministerial Advisory has helped to inform the current engagement opportunities available. On April 8, the Community Grant program was opened to support community-led conversations. The program will conclude August 30th). View the What We’ve Heard So Far to see early engagement results.
What is the role of the Ministerial Advisory?
The Ministerial Advisory plays an important role as a conduit into communities as a strategic advisor for an engagement approach that brings together people, communities and groups that have a stake in the conversation. During engagement planning, the Ministerial Advisory informed and made recommendations regarding the design of a province-wide, community-led engagement processes that will shape the vision for a new museum focused on the contributions and cultures of Canadians of South Asian heritages living in the province. During the second phase of public engagement, the Ministerial Advisory role has shifted to informing the implementation of the engagement process, participation in key engagement activities, providing a community lens to the data collected and review of the What We Heard report(s).
What is the Centre for Dialogue’s role?
In Phase 1, the Centre for Dialogue’s role was to provide strategic advice to the Province so that engagement was designed with the principles of equity, inclusivity, accessibility, anti-racism and anti-casteism. The Centre worked closely with the Ministerial Advisory to reflect the communities’ desires for how to have these conversations in the form of engagement opportunities. The Centre’s role as public engagement specialists was not to create the vision for the museum; that is the role of communities. The Center for Dialogue will continue in an engagement expert advisory capacity as needed in Phase 2.
What is the BC Museums Association’s role?
BCMA was retained to work with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport to administer the community grant program. As experts in the museum sector and engagement delivery, its resources, perspectives and contributions supported a broad and consultative engagement process.
What will the museum’s name be?
During the engagement, individuals and communities will be able to provide input into the name, location, and vision for this museum. The temporary working name Canadians of South Asian heritages in B.C. museum, is a placeholder until a name is determined following community engagement.
How can I get involved?
We value community involvement and are actively seeking input, knowledge, experiences, perspectives and collaboration throughout this engagement. We also encourage community organizations, cultural experts, and local residents to contribute their knowledge and expertise to shape the museum’s vision.
There will be many ways to get involved and share your input:
- Encourage your friends and networks to engage;
- Complete the survey;
- Let us know if there is any way we can improve the process.
How will my input be used?
Anonymous feedback from engagement activities will be compiled and analyzed to identify themes to form a What We Heard report. In alignment with the provincial government’s commitments to transparency, accountability and protection of privacy and of personal information, the report will be publicly available. Key learnings from the What We Heard report will inform the Ministry’s next steps in establishing a Canadians of South Asian heritages in B.C. museum.
When will the engagement take place?
Public engagement began April 2, 2024 and will run until December 2024.
Whom do I contact with questions?
Please contact CSAHMuseumEngagement@gov.bc.ca