COMUNN BAILE NAN GAIDHEAL (THE NOVA SCOTIA HIGHLAND VILLAGE SOCIETY)

We operate Baile nan Gàidheal/Highland Village a living history museum and Gaelic folk-life centre; offer a first person cultural interpretation program for Gaelic language and culture through the living history museum medium; offer workshops on Gaelic language Gaelic song dance and other aspects of Gaelic culture and folklife; offer lectures and other presentations on Gaelic language Gaelic song dance and other aspects of Gaelic culture; offer both on-site and in-classroom programming for the public school system on Gaelic language and culture; offer a four day folk-life school focused on folk-life and delivered through the medium of the Gaelic language; offer an in-depth learning program for children on a weekly basis through the summer and for youth on a bi-weekly basis through the summer; operate a website for virtual transmission of Gaelic culture; offer storytelling and special interpretive tours of the site; assist researchers with their family history research; carry-out research on Gaelic language culture and folk-life collections and material culture; offer virtual programming via our social media channels and Zoom conferencing software; and operate the museum on behalf of the Province of Nova Scotia.

We are working on expanding our special experiential programs for adults families schools and other groups. We have recently completed a $6.8 million site development project has seen significant renewal of our site infrastructure to support our programming collections management and other operational needs. Enhancements include a new 7 700 sq ft Welcome Centre (reception gift shop two exhibit galleries multi-purpose space commercial kitchen administrative offices and library/archives); four new exhibits; conversion of old visitor centre into curatorial centre (artifact storage and costumes); a new working period shingle mill; new washroom building on period site; new maintenance workshop; and conversion of old storage building in to an on site programming space. We worked in partnership with the Nova Scotia Nature Trust to acquire and preserve an important local piece of waterfront property with historical and natural value.