Visitors top 80,000 for guided tours, visits and special events
Canada's new national museum welcomes visitors to six more galleries this week, making all of its gallery spaces available for viewing.
"The response to our guided tours and events over the past six weeks since we first opened our doors has been amazing. We've welcomed over 1,000 people a day from all across Canada and around the world and we are excited to show our visitors even more," said Gail Stephens, interim president and CEO of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR). "Visitors will discover a truly unique museum experience – a journey of inspiration and education unlike anything else in the world."
Starting this week, visitors can now explore all 11 galleries at their own pace, or join a guided tour for an additional fee. Today is the first full day for open public entry to all galleries, as the Museum is closed Mondays and opened for only a partial day yesterday in honour of Remembrance Day. Since September 27, visitor entry has been facilitated via guided tours through five galleries at a reduced admission price while work continued on exhibits.
Online membership sales are now available through the CMHR Web site. To date, the Museum has attracted almost 1,500 members, who receive unlimited admission throughout the year and a 10-per-cent discount in the boutique and ERA Bistro. Direct online admission ticketing is also available. Tickets bought online or in person can be used for entry on any date, making them an ideal stocking stuffer or holiday gift.
During September and October, about 80,000 people flowed into the Museum for guided tours, special events and programs (including inaugural weekend activities), and visits to the Museum's boutique and ERA Bistro.
Already a popular location for events and receptions, the CMHR has booked 150 events between September 1 and December 31 – typically hosting multiple events each day. In addition, Museum programs to date have included the first two of six educator open houses, attended by over 250 teachers and education specialists, and a free public event to mark the 100th anniversary of the Komagata Maru incident, which attracted more than 300 people. In addition, about 7,500 students in 250 classes are already booked to attend Museum school programs, which begin in January.
A summary of facts and numbers can be found in the attached backgrounder. High-resolution images are available upon request.
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is the first museum in the world solely dedicated to the evolution, celebration and future of human rights. It is the first national museum in Canada to be built outside the National Capital Region. Using immersive multi-media technology and other innovative approaches, the Museum will create inspiring encounters with human rights as part of a visitor experience unlike any other.