Unvarnished

Canadian Museums are at a crossroads. Hit hard by the pandemic. Some are accused of discriminatory hiring practices and work environments. Many others for their colonial structures, facing calls for repatriation of their treasures and new narratives to include truthful indigenous history in collections and representations.

In other words, Canadian museums are dealing with many of the same debates besetting our broader society. Massimo Bergamini, executive director and C.E.O. of the Canadian Museums Association discusses the challenges.

Show Notes

Welcome to the premiere episode of the Canadian Museums Association podcast.  This is the first in a three-part series centered on the state of museums today viewed through the lens of the CMA’s 2022 conference theme, Dismantling Foundations to Build a Better Tomorrow.

Unvarnished, the series
This series is centered on the state of museums today viewed through the lens of the CMA’s 2022 conference theme, Dismantling Foundations to Build a Better Tomorrow.

Over the course of the series, we will hear from three speakers sharing their perspectives of the present, past and future of the Canadian museum sector.

Massimo Bergamini is CEO and Executive Director of the Canadian Museums Association.
Heather George, is an Indigenous curator currently working at the Woodland Cultural Centre and a CMA Board member.

And Lou-ann Neel, an artist and arts advocate currently working at Creative BC, British Columbia’s creative industry catalyst, following a 3-year tenure as head of Indigenous Collections at the Royal BC Museum. Lou-ann is also a member of the CMA Reconciliation Council.

About Canadian Museums
Museums are at the heart of a just and knowledgeable society. They educate and inspire. They house our culture and history. They create a sense of community and belonging. They allow us to better understand our past, our present and shape our future. They spark conversations and reflection. They build empathy and understanding for each other and remind us how diversity makes us stronger.

The Canadian Museum Association (CMA) is the voice for Canada’s vibrant museum community, from small, volunteer-driven organizations to cherished national institutions, and for the millions of Canadians whose lives are enriched by museums.

We advocate for public policies and support, we build skills across the profession, and we establish and inspire connections to strengthen and sustain museums.

What is Unvarnished ?

This three-part series presented in English and French is centered on the state of Canadian Museums today viewed through the lens of the CMA’s 2022 conference theme, Dismantling Foundations to Build a Better Tomorrow. Over the course of this series, we will hear from three speakers sharing their perspectives of the present, past and future of the Canadian Museum sector.