11 February 2009
The McGregor Museum in Kimberley is a provincial museum and is the major
museum of the Northern Cape province (NCP), being the largest non-nationally
funded museum in the country. It is the custodian of the treasures of the
province and has a wealth of musicological and research expertise at its
disposal. This has up to now been accessible principally only to citizens of
Kimberley and those who are able to travel to the city.
In considering the need to revitalise the smaller museums of the Northern
Cape and to expand the scope of museum functions in the province, it has been
resolved that the functions of the McGregor Museum be expanded to provide a
museum service throughout the province. As part of this expansion and change of
fundamental purpose of the museum it is felt that a new identity should be
developed for the institution, principally through a new name that reflects its
role as a museum and museum service for the entire Northern Cape province.
This exercise includes the renaming of both the institution, including its
nine component museums, and the finding of a name for its major component, the
facility on Atlas Street in the suburb of Herlear in Kimberley. This building
originally served as the Kimberley Sanatorium and later as the Kimberley
Convent. It is envisaged that the original museum building on Chapel Street in
the central business district of Kimberley, which now serves as a museum of the
history of Kimberley, will retain the name of Alexander McGregor.
As part of the process of considering a new name for the museum, the
Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) has over the past several months
consulted with the staff of the museum, its board and the organisation of
friends of the museum. The staff has suggested several names and the department
would like to add to those suggestions that come from the people of the
Northern Cape province who are hence asked to submit for consideration firstly
a name that reflects the purpose of the museum as an institution that serves
all the museums of the province and a secondly a name for the buildings of the
old sanatorium the house the cultural and natural treasures of the province.
Suggestions may be made by post or e-mail, contact particulars being contained
in an advert carried by newspapers throughout the province.
The lists of names suggested will be released and discussed at a meeting to
be held at the museum at 17h00 on 24 February 2009. All those interested are
welcome to attend.
Contact person:
Mr Shane Christians
Tel: 053 807 4700
Cell: 082 320 2618
Fax: 053 807 4600
Issued by: Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, Northern Cape Provincial
Government
11 February 2009
