Community Museum Assistance Program (CMAP)

The Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage offers advisory services and support toward operating costs for community museums, through the Heritage Division's Community Museum Assistance Program (CMAP).

In order to qualify for the program museums must demonstrate that they benefit their communities through collections, facilities, information, and public programs. Peer evaluation is an integral component of CMAP. The program currently supports 66 community museums of which 18 are open year round and 48 are seasonal. CMAP has had an important impact on this component of Nova Scotia's heritage sector.

In 2000 CMAP became responsible for SDI, or the Strategic Development Initiative It provides support for heritage related projects that build on a community's assets and strengths and encourages partnerships with archives, museums, community organizations, heritage associations, municipal governments, regional development authorities, and other bodies that are exploring common heritage objectives. Priority is given to initiatives focused on increased self-sufficiency in the province's growing heritage sector. CMAP publishes a web-based the Heritage Directory of Nova Scotia: Archives, Museums and other Heritage Resources.

CMAP works closely with the Council of Nova Scotia Archives(CNSA) and the Association of Nova Scotia Museums (ANSM) to provide an integrated, consistent approach to advisory services, training and development for the heritage sector.