Request for Proposals – Traveling Exhibit Design

Introduction and Overview 

There have been people of African descent living and working in Nova Scotia for over four hundred years, and they have been involved in virtually every aspect of marine industry – as fishers and processors, shippers and sailors, and shipbuilders and navigators. Still, the experiences and contributions of African Nova Scotian seafarers and their coastal communities have remained absent from practically all comprehensive bodies of research regarding maritime industry. Recognizing this inequity and motivated by broader discussions regarding systemic racism and exclusion, the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre (BLHC), Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia (BCCNS), and the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic (FMA) have begun a collaborative relationship aimed at elevating the stories of African Nova Scotians and their connections to the sea. This will be cultivated through the development of a province-wide travelling exhibition. 

By addressing critical research gaps, we intend to bring greater equity to the history of an industry that is intrinsically connected to this province’s cultural identity. 

This collaborative project will build on both the Black Loyalist Heritage Society and the Black Cultural Centre’s dedication to researching and disseminating the history and stories of Black Nova Scotians, and it dovetails with ongoing efforts from the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic to interpret Nova Scotia’s fishing heritage through a more accurately diverse and inclusive lens. Please note, although this project is a collaboration between BLHC, BCCNS and FMA this agreement will be managed the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic.

We are seeking proposals for Traveling Exhibit Concept and Design

All proposals should be sent to the following address by the closing date of November 10th, 2022.