A new gallery, a new campaign and celebrating milestones are some things on MHV’s (Mennonite Heritage Village) to-do list for 2024.
Executive director Gary Dyck says 2024 is a big year for them.
“It's the 150-year anniversary of the Mennonite’s first arrival in Manitoba, and it will be the museum’s 60th anniversary. So that's very special,” Dyck says.
He notes one project they have planned for this year is redoing the gallery in the Village Centre.
Dyck says 33 years is a long time for a gallery to be around, as 15 years is the standard lifespan of a gallery.
They will also conduct a feasibility study to see what’s possible monetarily and to get input from the community about what they want to see.
“It's going to be time to renew it and to add some new immersive experiences, new themes just to get the next generation engaged with our heritage,” he says.
Dyck says they will have a campaign to raise funds to deal with debt, build up endowment and tackle extra projects.
The goal is to renovate the interior of the Livery Barn restaurant this year and create a public path that connects to Steinbach.
In 2023, they installed the fountain in the pond. Dyck says they plan on adding more to the green space this year.
They will also continue working on the Village Centre’s white trim, which they hope to finish in May 2024.
With files from Adi Loewen.
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