Blind River’s Timber Village Museum Manager/Curator Ashley Young is calling on council to relocate artifacts and other items from the museum building to the marina building.
Young recommended in a report to council at its meeting Monday evening to move museum articles and services to the marina building because of the poor state the museum building.
Young called the current state of the building as having “major challenges” related to accessibility, maintenance and staffing.
Her proposal included the move to the marina building to “mitigate associated risks with the museum’s irreplaceable collection of artifacts and risks that compromise the safety of our staff, volunteers and users.”
Young’s report was brought to council’s attention after it was discussed at the January meeting of the recreation and cultural services committee which approved proposals contained in her report.
In her report Young stated the aging facility has inaccessible washrooms, gift shop, archives, office space and collection storage. The facility has also been plagued by pest infestations, poor lighting, water line freeze ups and leaking. Young is also recommending services usually held at the museum also be moved to the marina facility where they would be easily accessible by school students and other visitors.
Comments in a recent strategic plan noted the facility was “a little outdated.”
History displays would be moved to the lower level marina meeting room.
“This space will enable us to offer smaller, more focused exhibits that are in rotation with new displays each year,” Young noted.
The art gallery could be moved to the marina lounge overlooking Lake Huron to draw new artists and visitors, she said in her report.
The building would serve as a multi-purpose space for art receptions, concerts, history and art programming, the report states.
Similar to previous events, such as books launches and wine and cheese type events, the museum would follow its existing rental policy.
The marina kitchen is larger than the one at the museum and would allow the museum to conduct food-related workshops and the layout will ease access to a kitchen during receptions and rentals.
Young suggested some art storage could be accommodated at the marina building and museum archives could be housed at the town library.
Work to move articles would take place in early May with an art exhibit set to start May 1 and history display opening on May 24.
Council was told the move would require about $24,150 to purchase items such as paint, install a security system, window coverings, art display panels and an air conditioning unit.
Council approved the report after Young assured councillors all items moved would be done by experienced staff who know how it should be done.
Council was also told that new signage is being discussed by town staff to guide visitors to the community to the new location.