Lambton County Museums, Gallery and Archives Expanding Outreach

Wyoming, ON – Extended closures resulting from provincial orders and public health restrictions have kept Lambton County’s Museums, Gallery and Archives closed to the public in 2021. However, through the innovative use of new, virtual program offerings, staff are continuing to keep visitors engaged while also reaching new audiences across North America.

A key aspect of the Lambton County Museums’ Mandate is to provide educational opportunities for local schools, organizations and the general public. Recently, Lambton Heritage Museum and the Oil Museum of Canada began offering Live Virtual School Programs. Teachers now have the ability to book an appointment with a museum educator and bring the museum experience to the classroom – virtually! “We’re seeing tremendous interest in these sessions and they’re reaching beyond our municipal borders. Along with local bookings, we’ve had requests from across Ontario, and Alberta as well,” said Laurie Webb, Manager of Museums, Gallery and Archives.

Along with the museums, the Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery and Lambton County Archives have begun offering asynchronous learning opportunities. These virtual learning opportunities are designed to be accessed at the convenience of educators and the general public and can be found on each website. Topics include exploring aspects of our local history, oil history and art theory and practice.

Prior to the pandemic the Museums, Gallery and Archives offered regular presentations and workshops on location. After being faced with the inability to welcome visitors in 2020, presentations and workshops quickly shifted to virtual platforms. In doing so, there has been a notable increase in attendance and previous barriers to access have been minimized. “The virtual platforms have allowed us the ability to increase our reach. We have seen participation in virtual workshops and presentations reaching as far as Quebec, British Columbia, the state of Washington, North Carolina, and California, among others. Although our topics often focus on our collections, exhibitions and local history, it’s clear they resonate with audiences far and wide,” said Webb.

For more information on virtual learning opportunities, please visit the following websites:

• Lambton County Museums and Archives: www.lambtonmuseums.ca/en/online-learning.aspx
• Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery: https://www.jnaag.ca/en/visit/virtual-education.aspx

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Please contact:

Laurie Webb
Manager, Museums, Gallery and Archives
County of Lambton
519-845-0809 ext. 5230
Email Laurie Webb