A very provocative question, Liz.

Here in Niagara, we are dealing with this issue up close and personal!
I work for Niagara Region, an upper-tier municipality with 12 area
municipalities.  Recently, Regional Council has been very interested in
exploring the economic development opportunities associated with arts,
culture and heritage.  To that end, one Regional Councillor championed
the cause and gained Council support to strike an advisory Arts, Culture
and Heritage Committee.  The main focus of the Committee is to map the
Region's cultural assets and to develop a cultural policy.

Simultaneously, the Region's Planning Committee received correspondence
from a local LACAC, asking for a Regional heritage presence.  As the
focus had been heritage designation, and Section 4 of the Heritage Act,
this issue was referred to the Planning Committee, then to the "Smarter
Niagara" steering committee, which formed a "Downtowns and Heritage
Working Group."  I invited myself to be a member.  The working group
organized a "Heritage Summit" - the theme of which was "Preserving,
Protecting and Marketing Niagara's Historic Places."  The day was a
success and resulted in some recommendations that included a desire to
see archives protected at the regional level.  

What we're finding now, is that these two committees are now at a
disconnect.  Heritage always seems to be arts and culture's poor cousin.

I'm wondering if anyone else has encountered a similar situation.  Would
you be willing to share it?  I'd be interested in the benefits of the
collective wisdom out there!

Anne Hepplewhite
Manager, Corporate Records and Archives Services
Niagara Region


-----Original Message-----
From: A forum for discussion for the Archives Assoc. of Ontario
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Liz Mayville
Sent: Monday, November 28, 2005 10:11 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Question

Hello Everyone,

A few weeks ago, the AAO Board began posting questions on the listserv
in order to create some meaningful discussion within the archival
community regarding matters that affect us. The first question was the
following:

"With Museums and Libraries expanding their focus to include more and
more archival materials, how do Archives set themselves apart from the
rest of the Heritage Community? On the other hand, do partnerships with
other groups/organizations help heighten the profile of the archival
community?"

Please feel free to contribute any thoughts and/or ideas that you might
have regarding this question or further questions posted by Board
Members. We are hoping to eventually create articles for the OTR with
the suggestions and concerns brought up through these postings. 

Happy discussing!

Liz Mayville


Vice President
Archives Association of Ontario

 


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