Transitional funding for The Rooms provided in Budget 2003

Julie Bettney, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, said today Budget 2003 provides funding of $350,000 for The Rooms, bringing the total transitional funding for this initiative to $1.75 million.

"Through The Rooms, the province is renewing its commitment to preserving and promoting our cultural heritage, a heritage unlike any other in the world," said Minister Bettney. "The cultural artifacts, natural history specimens, archival documents and works of art accumulated over the years are resources of global significance. They exist nowhere else and, in The Rooms, they will be preserved and exhibited in the best possible manner."

The archival and artifact collections that will be moved to the new facility are currently in the process of being conserved and catalogued.

"The Rooms will provide a rich resource for exploring our fascinating part of the world through genealogy, archaeology, and natural history. It will be a place to encounter our contemporary visual arts community, celebrate our history and experience our vibrant living culture," said the minister.

Media contact: Melony O�Neill, Communications, (709) 729-0928.

2003 03 27                                      4:30 p.m.