Cultural Sector Recovery Plan – Significant Support for the Activities of Science and Technology Museums

LAVAL, QC, July 7, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ –^{Nathalie Roy}, Minister of Culture and Communications, is pleased to announce nearly $3.7 million in financial support for science and technology museums (IMVST), which are now supported in their mission by the Ministry of Culture and Communications. She made the announcement alongside the Member for Sainte-Rose, Christopher Skeete, at Parc de la Rivière-des-Mille-Îles.

Committed to ensuring their smooth operation in 2020–2021, the minister insisted that financial assistance be quickly provided to the 16 IMVSTs located throughout Quebec, including $950,000 for the IMVSTs in Laval. For the following four years, the total amount allocated to science museums will be $20 million.

As part of the Economic Recovery Plan for the Cultural Sector, the 16 IMVSTs will also be eligible for a one-time additional allocation of $5.03 million, which will be used to increase operating assistance for the museum sector.

The new operating grant awarded to the 16 IMVSTs is in addition to the support provided to 96 museum institutions through the Operating Grant Program for Museum Institutions, ensuring that more than 110 museum institutions of all types will now receive financial support from the Ministry, across the province of Quebec. This program will ultimately include a component specifically for IMVSTs.

Quotes:

“Our government recognizes the vital contribution of science museums in terms of their roles in public outreach, education, research, promotion, and conservation. “In the current context of the pandemic, I was determined that we act quickly to provide financial support to these museum institutions, which have been weakened by the health crisis. Their mission aligns with our goal of promoting the Quebec culture of which we are proud and making it accessible, and we will be happy to support them over the next five years.”

Nathalie Roy, Minister of Culture and Communications

“The Government of Quebec is pleased to support science and technology museums as they resume their activities. The economic recovery plan developed by the Ministry of Culture and Communications and the Ministry of Finance and implemented in June aims to ensure that the cultural sector is well-equipped to deal with the consequences of this health crisis and once again become a major economic driver for Quebec.”

Eric Girard, Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for the Laval region

“It is with great pleasure that I welcome the financial assistance for science and technology museums, which was just announced by the Minister of Culture and Communications. Thanks to this support, institutions in our region, such as the Parc de la Rivière-des-Mille-Îles and the Centre d’interprétation de l’eau, both located in the Sainte-Rose riding, will be able to continue their activities and fulfill their mission, much to the delight of Quebecers. They will thus continue to put Laval on the map within Quebec’s scientific museum landscape.”

Christopher Skeete, Member of Parliament for Sainte-Rose

It should also be noted that the Economic Recovery Plan for the Cultural Sector, announced on June¹, includes specific measures applicable to museums. The Ministry of Culture and Communications has worked closely with the Ministry of Finance to implement this major plan, which has a budget of $400 million.

Finally, science and technology museums that wish to do so will be able to participate in the free admission initiative on the first Sunday of the month, once they are ready.

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SOURCE: Office of the Minister of Culture and Communications

For more information: Source: Geneviève Gouin, Political Communications Officer, Office of the Minister of Culture and Communications, 418-380-2310; Information: Media Relations Team, Ministry of Culture and Communications, 418-380-2388