Evaluation of the Museums Assistance Program 2008-09 to 2012-13

Overview of the Museums Assistance Program The MAP was originally created in 1972 with the announcement of the National Museum Policy.1 The MAP was re-affirmed in 1990 with the Canadian Museum Policy, which announced increased funding to the program.2 The MAP supports heritage institutions and workers in the preservation and presentation of heritage collections. [...] The program is housed within the Heritage Policy and Programs Branch of the Heritage Group within the Citizenship and Heritage sector of the Department of Canadian Heritage (PCH). [...] The evaluation confirms the continuing relevance of the program and the need for federal funding to support the activities of museums and heritage institutions. [...] While there is a high level of satisfaction with the MAP among funding recipients, there is room in some areas for potential improvements to delivery, such as the call for proposals timeframe, the length of time between the submission of applications and the receipt of a response from the program and the transparency to applicants of funding decisions. [...] According to the survey results and the key informants, the strongest administrative elements of the program are the service provided by PCH program officers, the application submission process, the clarity of the application guidelines and the flexibility of the funding provided.