$149,800 OTF Grant Supports the Textile Museum of Canada with Digital Content, Building Safety, and Renovations
Earlier this year, the Textile Museum of Canada (the Museum) was thrilled to learn it was receiving a $149,800 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). The funds have helped support the renovation of its physical spaces to increase safety and create more virtual environments and digital content to deliver socially engaged programs. The Resilient Communities Fund program was developed by OTF to help the non-profit sector rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19.
“Museums enrich our quality of life and bring culture and vitality to our city. The pandemic has shown us the importance of being able to deliver programming in a variety of ways so that our community can continue to safely enjoy all that museums like the Textile Museum of Canada have to offer.” – MPP Chris Glover
Thanks to the grant, the Museum has enhanced learning spaces and activities and improved access to digital content, including developing a mobile engagement app to improve visitor’s experiences online. New virtual environments and digital content will be delivered thanks to the support of the Digital Content Producer, including the animation of digital and on-site programs as the Museum transitions into a hybrid model of programming and producing livestreamed digital programs.
It’s also enhanced its programming space to ensure visitors will have a safe and physically-distanced area for hands-on studio activities at the new Textile Learning Hub, and where they can contribute to sustainable textile practices through the reimagined Textile Reuse Program.
To increase visitor safety, the Museum, located at 55 Centre Street in Toronto, has implemented the Honeywell Healthy Building Project and installed high-efficiency filters and UV lights to improve indoor air quality to safely welcome its visitors back. It is currently the only museum in Canada to have adopted this technology to benefit the health of the building and its occupants.
The Resilient Communities Fund grant made it possible for the Museum to move forward with COVID-19 recovery and safety while connecting with its community through digital programming and content. The funding provided the opportunity for building improvements that will contribute to the well-being of visitors and staff, as well as new learning experiences for audiences within the Museum and at home.
Visit textilemuseum.ca for more information and to reserve tickets online. The Museum is offering free admission until December 31, 2021.
The Textile Museum of Canada aims to inspire understanding of the human experience through textiles. We are the only museum in Canada delivering programs and exhibitions dedicated solely to textile arts. The Museum ignites creativity, inspires wonder, and sparks conversation through the stories held within our global collection of textiles, and active engagement with contemporary art practices.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations. Last year, nearly $112M was invested into 1,384 community projects and partnerships to build healthy and vibrant communities and strengthen the impact of Ontario’s non-profit sector. In 2020/21, OTF supported Ontario’s economic recovery by helping non-profit organizations rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
