The Royal B.C. Museum will close in September as the province has set aside $789 million for a new state-of-the-art and seismically safe building set to open in 2030. RBCM itself will also contribute to the modernization project through its fundraising campaigns.
含羞草研究社淚t has been a true honour to be a part of this historical moment,含羞草研究社� said Melanie Mark, minister of tourism, arts, culture and sport in the emotional announcement Friday (May 13).
The new museum will reflect the experiences and perspectives of all who contributed to B.C.含羞草研究社檚 history, providing a cultural legacy for generations to come.
含羞草研究社淭his is just the start,含羞草研究社� Chief Rob Thomas of the Esquimalt Nation said during the announcement. 含羞草研究社淭he Lekwungen, we含羞草研究社檝e been excluded from almost everything for a long time 含羞草研究社� to partner with B.C. and the museum in our traditional territory means so much to me.含羞草研究社�
A museum含羞草研究社檚 purpose is to inspire learning and innovation while challenging perspectives, attitudes, how we think and how we interact with the world, museum CEO Alicia Dubois said.
含羞草研究社淭his is a mammoth announcement and one that is long overdue,含羞草研究社� she added.
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While the physical building will close for modernization, the museum will not. It will instead build on travelling programs and displays and enhance digital offerings.
含羞草研究社淭his is an opportunity for us to have conversations and to learn about all British Columbians through community engagement. We want to hear your stories and understand what you would like to see in a modern museum,含羞草研究社� Dubois said.
For decades, people have come to learn about the province and the stories told here have failed to accurately reflect the colonial history or include everyone, said Premier John Horgan, adding priceless collections are also at risk in the aging building. The current building opened in August 1968.
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The third-floor galleries were long criticized for celebrating the European settlement of the province and underrepresenting Indigenous peoples and immigrant communities. In November 2021, following a damning internal report on racism, the museum announced it would close the galleries at the start of 2022 and begin a consultation process to determine how to replace them.
The museum closes Sept. 6. The BC Archives, also housed in the building on Belleville Street in Victoria, will remain open until moving to its permanent new home at the collections and research building in Colwood. That project is expected to be completed by 2025. Imax Victoria, the museum含羞草研究社檚 gift shop and the food trucks will remain open and on site through early 2023.
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