Africville Museum gets $150K in first public funding since settlement

The Africville Museum will receive $150,000 to support long term growth after a provincial announcement on Friday.

Percy Paris has worked as the board chair of the Africville Heritage Trust for the last few years. He said except for a portion of the 2010 Africville settlement, the museum has not received any public funding.

“Having a strategic plan in hand, we can explain to the government what we’re asking for,” Paris said.

He said he sees great potential for the museum and the property it sits on. The funding from the government is earmarked to create a plan for sustainable futures. Paris said that work is already underway.

“We’ve got to be doing something that’s going to pay for itself, and hopefully maybe generate other funds,” said Paris. His group is looking at options for growth beyond what they are currently doing. He suggested an interpretive centre could be established.

According to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Africville was a community off the Bedford Basin that was destroyed by the city of Halifax in the 1960s.

The museum is a replica of the Seaview United Baptist Church, an important feature of the community which was torn down during the razing of Africville.

After an apology from HRM in 2010, the Africville Heritage Trust was established to build the museum. It sees visitors from around the world every year.

“​​Africville is important to our history and our future. It’s a key site not only for Nova Scotians, but for visitors from across Canada, the United States and beyond, who are drawn to explore the culture and history of the African diaspora,” stated Dwayne Provo, associate deputy minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs, in a news release.