By Cecilia Nasmith

On the occasion of International Museum Day, May 18, Northumberland County Archives and Museum has unveiled its new logo design and concept renderings of their new facility – now under construction, and scheduled to move out of its current Cobourg location at 200 Ontario St. to open in the summer of 2024.

The logo showcases the NCAM acronym in modern, rounded shapes meant to convey a friendly and inviting feel that beckons viewers to explore the facility from many perspectives – a window into the past, a door to new possibilities and a place to grow.

The colours were chosen from the county's brand palette. The blue and green N and C emphasize its mandate to serve all Northumberland municipalities, while the purple and orange A and M represent its exciting new potential.

With construction recently passing the half-way mark, Warden Mandy Martin sees the logo as a symbol of NCAM's “commitment to excellence in preserving and presenting the rich history of Northumberland in a fully accessible and inclusive facility.

“The logo marks a new beginning for NCAM as it embarks on its journey into a new space. We are excited to have arrived at this milestone. We look forward to bringing these new service offerings to the community.”

The artist renderings just released showcase several exciting new features, such as an expanded reading room for public research, dedicated museum gallery space for public displays and 50,000 linear feet of archive storage units.

The facility will be part of an innovative pairing with the new Golden Plough Lodge long-term-care home that will move over from its current nearby location on Courthouse Road.

“The new facility is a significant step forward for NCAM, representing its commitment to expanding its role in Northumberland County and with its community partners,” Archivist Abigail Miller commented in the press release

“We are thrilled to be expanding our service offerings and to be located alongside the Golden Plough Lodge to create opportunities that benefit not only public visitors but residents, caregivers and families as well.”

With International Museum Day celebrated globally on May 18, Northumberland County joins municipalities across the province to proclaim May as Museum Month to raise awareness of their role in the development of society and their importance as cultural hubs and contributors to community wellbeing.

“NCAM is a critical repository of information that engages the public through a variety of public programming initiatives to foster a deeper understanding of culture and heritage in Northumberland County,” the announcement said.

“Northumberland County acknowledges the generous support of the Government of Canada towards the new NCAM building.”

For more information, visit Northumberland.ca/NCAM