News release

Change to Nova Scotia Museum Act Introduced

Tourism, Culture and Heritage (Dec. 2003 - Jan. 2011)

The established practice of charging fees by the Nova Scotia Museum system is being reflected in an amendment introduced today, Nov. 24, by Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage Percy Paris.

The change to the Nova Scotia Museum Act confirms a previous government decision in 1994 to allow museum fees, but was never included in the act.

There are no increases to public admission fees at museums planned because of the change to the act.

"This is a housekeeping step to confirm government's long standing management of the fee structure for its museums," said Percy Paris, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage. "Revenue from museum fees helps support the operations of each museum site in performing its role in heritage stewardship and interpretation."

Fees charged by museums include public admission and rentals of museum facilities.

The Nova Scotia Museum system consists of 11 directly managed sites and 16 locally managed sites which are operated by independent societies, municipalities and commissions. The amendment to the act does not affect them.