COOKTOWN MUSEUMS CONGRATULATED

The organisations are:

• Cooktown History Centre
• James Cook Museum
• Nature’s Powerhouse.

Their achievements were recognised at a formal event at Cook Shire Council Chambers on Thursday December 1 2011. Each of the organisations received a certificate of recognition from Councillor Peter Scott, Mayor of Cook Shire Council, in acknowledgement of their significant contribution.

M&GSQ’s Standards Program, now in its seventh consecutive year of partnership with Museums & Galleries NSW, is a supportive program for the museum and gallery sector, designed to help participating museums plan for a healthy future by recognising their achievements, raising their profile and identifying strategic priorities for improvement and development.

M&GSQ especially acknowledges the support of Bev Shay, Cooktown & District Historical Society and the Regional Arts Development Fund that made it possible to bring this program to Cooktown. The Regional Arts Development Fund is a Queensland Government and Cook Shire Council partnership to support local arts and culture.

This financial support enabled M&GSQ staff and the Standards Reviewers to travel to each organisation and work with them on-site. The Standards Reviewers are museum industry experts who volunteer their time and play a vital role in providing professional advice and assistance to participants. M&GSQ gratefully acknowledges the pro bono work the Standards Reviewers, Elizabeth Bates, Ken Brooks, Leanne Kelly and Ross Searle undertook with the organisations, and the support of the reviewers’ workplaces for their invaluable contribution to M&GSQ’s Standards Program.

Community support for wonderful cultural venue

Mayor Peter Scott joined Museum and Gallery Services Queensland (M&GSQ) in congratulating NATURE’S POWERHOUSE, a purpose-built facility containing a Visitor Information Centre, the Charles Tanner Gallery, the Vera Scarth-Johnson Gallery, a café and a gift shop situated within the heritage listed Cooktown Botanic Gardens.

At the Cook Shire Council Chambers on Thursday 1 December, the Mayor heard of the centre’s achievements and their plans for achieving more effective use of the galleries and overall space at Nature’s Powerhouse arising from their year-long participation in M&GSQ’s Standards Program.

According to M&GSQ’s Standards Program Reviewers, Elizabeth Bates and Ross Searle, industry experts who played a vital role in providing pro bono professional advice and assistance throughout the Program:

“It was very obvious that there is an ongoing commitment to making Nature’s Powerhouse work for both the local community and for visitors. This is shown through the large number of community members who care about the future of the centre. Other areas of note were the exceptional museum-standard storage facilities made available to the Vera Scarth-Johnson Collection, and the passion and diligence of the committee that oversees this Collection. It was also noticed that the centre offered excellent customer service to all visitors, including tours of the adjoining historical Botanic Gardens, a delightful café and full visitor services.”

David Barker, Tourism Coordinator, Cook Shire Council, explained what they had gained by participating in the Standards Program:

“The Standards Program has brought together all stakeholders in Nature’s Powerhouse to form a shared vision for the future direction of the facility.”

For media enquiries and to obtain print quality images of the museum and the presentation, please contact:

1.  David Barker, Tourism Coordinator, Cook Shire Council

Phone:  07 4082 0511         Email: Dbarker@cook.qld.gov.au

2.  Ann Baillie, Manager - Training & Professional Development, M&GSQ

Phone:    07 3215 0845 Freecall:  1800 680 433 (within Queensland)

Mobile:  0419 729 533 Email:    ann.baillie@magsq.com.au

Museum and Gallery Services Queensland media release 5th December 2011