Benefits
Public, not-for-profit Canadian museums and heritage organizations are invited to reap the many benefits available to members of the Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN).
Choose the right CHIN membership for you.
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Get investments to create online content |
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Obtain discounts at select national and international CHIN events |
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Other Benefits |
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Priority placement at CHIN international and national events |
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CHIN Member Benefits
Free Membership
CHIN considers the information shared by the member institutions with the heritage community and, through the VMC, with Canadian audiences to be equivalent to a fee.
Get Exposure on the Virtual Museum of Canada (VMC)
All CHIN members can give their institution a dynamic presence on the popular VMC, and turn virtual visits into in-person visits.
Through the Your Institution and Your Events online entry forms, use your username and password to create or update detailed entries about your attractions. Recently updated entries are more likely to be “featured”. Add events, propose images as electronic postcards, or catalogue your museum's existing online content, including educational resources for teachers.
Contribute to Artefacts Canada
Contributing Members may raise their online profile and share their collections with professional colleagues by contributing to Artefacts Canada. Canada's national inventory of museum objects, Artefacts Canada is a database of several million records and images from Canadian museums. Any image linked to those records will be featured in the VMC's Image Gallery. You can submit new records at any time.
Get Investments to Create Online Content
VMC Virtual Exhibits Investment Program
The Virtual Exhibits Investment Program provides investment for the creation of VMC content. The program nurtures the creation of unique virtual exhibits and interactive resources that explore Canadian heritage.
Basic and Contributing Members may submit proposals to this program.
Community Memories Program
The Community Memories Program provides investment for online local history exhibits. Hundreds of smaller museums have taken their first steps in Web content creation through this program. Museums collaborate with their communities to bring local history online.
Basic and Contributing Members with no more than five full-time paid staff, including institutions that are entirely volunteer-run, are eligible to submit proposals to this program.
Access CHIN's Expertise and Technical Support
CHIN's experts are available to assist all CHIN members with questions regarding their projects and our products. We can help you with access, content, searching, general troubleshooting and other technical issues.
You may access CHIN's technical expertise and support through our Help Desk by email, at service@rcip-chin.gc.ca, or by telephone, at 819-994-1200 or 1-800-520-2446. Business hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern, Monday – Friday.
Free Internet Access, Support and Training
Basic and Contributing Members are eligible to benefit from one of the following types of Internet support:
Internet Access and Training
Members who wish to benefit from Internet access support can be reimbursed for up to $300 a year. Members who choose this option are also eligible to receive up to $400 in total for Internet training support.
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Enhanced Internet Training
New members who choose this option are eligible for up to $750 in total for Internet training support.
Obtain Discounts at Select National and International Professional Events
All CHIN members benefit from discounts negotiated by CHIN (e.g. conference registrations, CHIN events).
Receive Regular News Updates
Through electronic newsletters, RSS feeds and other correspondence, all CHIN members may stay current on CHIN news. Watch for new or improved CHIN products and services, best practices at fellow institutions or latest trends and research.
Other Benefits
Priority Placement at International and National CHIN Events
Other membership benefits for all CHIN members include priority placement in CHIN events, where feasible.
Draw from CHIN's Partnerships
CHIN has a strong working relationship with many partners. These partners range from museum associations to private sector companies and governmental counterparts, both at home and abroad. CHIN creates opportunities for all CHIN members to collaborate and learn through national and international projects.
Access CHIN's Marketing Expertise
All CHIN members may benefit from CHIN's marketing expertise. CHIN carries out many promotional activities to raise the collective profile of member institutions in schools and among online audiences, both at home and abroad. CHIN's marketing initiatives include events, press relations, online marketing, contests and search engine optimization.
Shape CHIN's Future
All CHIN members have an important voice in shaping CHIN initiatives. You can influence the development and direction of programs and services by participating in surveys, pilot projects and consultations.
Become a Member Today
Apply for CHIN membership.
