The Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre Receives Federal Support for Its Expansion

The Government of Canada is providing $500,000 through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund to the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre in Burnaby

BURNABY, BC, April 11, 2018 /CNW/ - Today, Arif Virani, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage (Multiculturalism), announced an investment of $500,000 through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund in the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre. Mr. Virani made this announcement on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage.

This support will allow the organization to significantly increase its exhibition area, and enhance its curatorial and storage spaces. A new permanent gallery will allow the Museum to better display artifacts and information to provide an overview of Japanese-Canadian history and better contextualize the Museum's rotating temporary exhibits.

Funding will also support professional services such as architectural and engineering design work and the preparation of construction documents for the project.

The Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre is the largest organization of its kind in Canada, focused on the collection, preservation and exhibition of Japanese-Canadian culture and history, in particular the forced relocation and dispossession of Japanese Canadians in 1942.

This year marks the 30^th anniversary of the Government of Canada's apology and redress actions to Japanese Canadians for wrongs suffered during the Second World War. The commemorative and educational spirit of the enhanced exhibit space will help ensure new generations can understand and learn from this chapter in our history.

Quotes

"Our government is proud to support the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre as it builds on its success and finds new ways to share with all Canadians the Japanese-Canadian experience and contribution, which are integral parts of Canada's heritage and multicultural society."

—The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage

"Investing in cultural institutions enhances the health and vitality of our cities and towns. The Japanese community has a long history in Canada, and the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre plays a vital role in documenting and protecting the artifacts, photographs and personal stories that commemorate its place in our national mosaic. I am delighted that this funding will reinvigorate and refresh the facilities that support the important work of this organization."

—Arif Virani, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage (Multiculturalism)

"The Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre is dedicated to honouring, preserving and sharing Japanese-Canadian culture, history and heritage. We have delivered our innovative exhibits, cultural programming and school programs within our limited space for almost two decades, but have far outgrown our small footprint. It is significant that, in this 30^th anniversary year of Japanese-Canadian Redress, we will expand our exhibit display space, improve our archival storage facilities and provide user-friendly education facilities in order to better serve visitors, students and researchers interested in our complex and rich history, and this, thanks to support from the Department of Canadian Heritage."

—Sherri Kajiwara, Director/Curator, Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre

Quick Facts

The Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre was founded in 1980 as a volunteer organization to capture and preserve the oral histories of elders and early pioneers in the Japanese-Canadian community. The Museum's collection of 2,000 artifacts, 10,000 photographs, 450 oral history recordings, and archival and textual materials is routinely accessed by film productions, academics and researchers.

The Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre is situated within the Nikkei Place complex, which also includes a seniors' health care and housing society, and a traditional Japanese garden.

The term "Nikkei" is derived from the Japanese word nikkeijin, which refers to people of Japanese ancestry who live abroad as citizens of other countries.

In Budget 2017, the Government of Canada dedicated $300 million to the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund over a 10-year period, starting in 2018, to support creative hubs and other cultural spaces. This additional investment is a part of the social infrastructure component of the Investing in Canada Plan.

The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund supports the improvement of physical conditions for artistic creativity and innovation, as well as the improvement, renovation and construction of arts and heritage facilities, and the acquisition of specialized equipment.

Associated Links

Canada Cultural Spaces Fund

Investing in Canada Plan

Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre

SOURCE Canadian Heritage