A Message from the President of the Board

Michael Wallace

It has been an honour to serve as your president for this last year, and to work with the dedicated volunteer board members, with Massimo, and the CMA staff.

As the executive director of a very small museum, I can go days without seeing another museological colleague. So, I have always been a fan of our conferences and symposiums when I can meet museum professionals from institutions of all sizes, places and areas of specialization. I am inspired by their effort, perspectives and experiences. Regardless of where they work, over a cup of coffee, I hear from delegates that they find museum work to be personally fulfilling, and that they are also deeply motivated by the important role that museums play in our communities.

Michael Wallace

Our annual conference this year only lasted two days, but it was an important and productive forum on our journey toward a more just and equitable museum sector. We know museums can be catalysts for positive change, but we must also acknowledge the ways that museums have been change inhibitors as well. Sometimes, alongside these much-needed lessons are some great tips for increasing gift shop sales as a little bonus.

The depth and breadth of the change we need is fundamental, as reflected in this year’s conference theme: Dismantling Foundations to Build a Better Tomorrow.

Sometimes the first step toward doing what we do in a new way is to simply stop doing it in the old way, to just stop doing things in established ways and start with new and better ways. Of course, that’s slightly disingenuous of me, as we all know there’s nothing simple about change. Change is complex, and we struggle to overcome old habits and comfortable routines. Change can be intimidating it brings anxiety and risks. At the same time, it can be exciting, refreshing and rewarding. It provides an opportunity to ask awkward questions about how we work, how we curate, how we engage, interpret and collaborate. It demands that we rethink and rebuild how we see what is expected of us as museum professionals.

Adding to the complexity are the questions about what better tomorrow we want to build. That’s a fascinating discussion. I think the answer to that lies within our broad membership. Just as museums are looking to engage with their communities and be a platform that can shape society, the CMA looks forward to engaging with you, its members, and be a platform for you to help define the better tomorrow we want to build. I hope you were not expecting me to define that better tomorrow from a position of authority?

2022 Conference artwork created by Kezna Dalz, also known professionally as Teenadult.

The exciting proposition about this discussion at this point in time, is that it will have consequences. The Government of Canada is committed to reviewing its Museum Policy. What are the goals of that policy? What is the vision for the different roles that different museums can play as we build a better tomorrow? How can we serve and lead our communities?

As we emerge from public health directives to stay at home, I also wanted to take a minute to acknowledge the importance of the CMA’s daily news clippings to me personally. During the pandemic, they were a vital reminder that none of us is alone, and that each of us is part of this community of museums and workers that stretches across the land. The news from you and your museums gave me strength and hope as I read about how you were meeting the challenges and opportunities of our new shared realities. So thank you for that.

I look forward to seeing many of you again on May 25th, 2022 for our Annual General Meeting, which will be online again this year to make it more accessible. It is during that meeting that I hope to see a continuation of the work done this year. While my term as president is ending, I look forward to seeing a new one elected by you, all of my trusted colleagues.

Thank you all for being a part of our work, for having the courage and decency to admit our mistakes, and for working together to build a better tomorrow. M