TORONTO, July 27 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the Ontario Museum Association! We are celebrating 50 years of fostering a strong museum sector for Ontario with the staff and volunteers of the province’s 700 museums, galleries and heritage sites. To commemorate this occasion, we are hosting a year-long series of online activities, culminating in the 2022 OMA Annual Conference in Hamilton in November.

The Ontario Museum Association (OMA) was established in 1972 with a mission to strengthen the capacity of institutions and individuals to build a strong, collaborative and inclusive museum sector that is essential to community life and the well -being of Ontarians, especially as we reconnect and rebuild after the pandemic.

For its members to shape and embrace the nature of museum work in service of their communities, over the past 50 years the OMA has championed the vital role of Ontario museums in society, promoted emerging best practices through professional development, strengthened a collaborative network of Ontario museums and fostered a culture of innovation and excellence.

“I am proud to celebrate this milestone and recognize the OMA’s 50 years of working with stakeholders, including all levels of government, related sectors and industries, and other professional organizations, to provide Ontarians with the substantial financial and social benefits of museums. Museums are key community assets and contribute to economic, educational, cultural and social vitality. Despite the ongoing challenges of the pandemic, museums across our province have shown resilience and provided valuable engagement. Additional investments in museums mean they can be strong partners in reconnecting and rebuilding Ontario.

-Cathy Molloy, OMA President

OMA works alongside museums because they play a crucial role in shaping our understanding of the world through the knowledge they share. The OMA is committed to challenging established practices and supporting emerging areas of museum practice, including: Indigenous museology, reconciliation, diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion, and climate changes.

The story continues

“Museums are trusted public institutions that promote social well-being through authentic experiences and connections in all communities across the province – urban, rural, northern, Indigenous, eastern and eastern. West. They provide access to the benefits of culture and heritage, which make our communities vibrant and vital places to live, work, visit and invest. OMA will continue to empower museums to envision and realize the museum of the future, a museum that fully meets the needs of the community and can help meet society’s greatest challenges.

-Marie Lalonde, Director General of the OMA

We invite everyone to join in our 50th anniversary celebration and visit a museum near you!

For questions regarding the Ontario Museum Association and the museum community, please contact:
Mary Lalonde
Executive Director
Ontario Museum Association
416-348-8672 — Toll free in ON 1-866-662-8672
[email protected]
www.museumsontario.ca