The Association of Nova Scotia Museums is excited to present the Awards for Excellence in Museum Practices program for the tenth consecutive year.
ANSM accepts nominations in two awards categories—Individual Contribution, and Programming by an Organization. The association was pleased to receive nominations for both categories this year, and to be able to announce a winner in each.
Over the past year, the dedicated work of the ANSM Board of Directors and Awards Committee members—Chair Katie Tanner and members Lisa Wolfe, Peter Cullen, Debra McNabb, Joyce Rankin, and Matthew Cook—along with the assistance of Executive Director Maggie MacIntyre, has made this year’s awards presentations possible.
The Award of Excellence in Museum Practices, Programming by an Organization recognizes an outstanding museum project within the past year. ANSM is pleased to present this award to the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic for their “Ta’n me’j Tel-keknuo’ltiek – How Unique we Still Are” exhibit.
The following project summary is an excerpt from the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic’s nomination:
“The exhibit, Ta’n me’j Tel-keknuo’ltiek illustrates the unique ways that the Mi’kmaq continue to be connected to the lands, and especially the waters, of Mi’kma’ki. The concept Ta’n me’j Telkeknuo’ltiek— “the unique way we continue to be”— is used to show how the Mi’kmaw people past and present are shaped by their deep and abiding relations to the place they sprouted from.
The exhibit employs single-word concepts and first-person, multi-generational interviews (oral histories), images and artifacts, to give a broad contextual understanding of the unique way the Mi’kmaq continue to be. An emphasis on treaty relations is central to the concept and serves as a through-line connecting the exhibit’s themes and narratives.”
The Award of Excellence in Museum Practices, Individual Contribution acknowledges remarkable contributions by a museum professional (volunteer or paid) to a better knowledge of Nova Scotia’s human or natural history. ANSM is pleased to present this award to John Tate.
John spent the first decade of his career with the Dartmouth Heritage Museum and later the Nova Scotia Museum in the late 1990s where he worked as a museum technician and preparator. He crafted models, mounts, exhibit components, and repaired just about everything. The following is an expert from his nomination:
“[John Tate’s] dedication, creativity and insightfulness in mount making, molding, casting and prop development for public programs demonstrates excellence in museum practice. His craftsmanship and development of new ideas and approaches to display objects and works of art is innovative and has been critical in supporting museums to create a positive impact and access to a better understanding of the human and natural history in our province.
[…] His many colleagues over the years all have a deep respect for his dedication, creativity, and commitment to quality museum work in the face of an often challenging and fast-paced environment.”
View the 2022 awards citation on our awards page.
Congratulations to both the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and John Tate on their worthy receipt of these awards!
