[Bcma-l] (Fwd) Free Spirit exhibition opens at the Royal BC Museum

[bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca]

------- Forwarded message follows -------
Subject:                     *Free Spirit exhibition opens at the Royal 
BC Museum*
Date sent:                  *Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:42:53 -0700*
From:                         *"Yaxley, Fionn RBCM:EX" 
<FYaxley@royalbcmuseum.bc.ca>*

>  For Immediate Release
>  Mar. 13, 2008
>
>  New chapter in BC history opens at Royal BC Museum
>
>  VICTORIA - Free Spirit: Stories of You, Me and BC, the exhibition,
>  opened today at the Royal BC Museum (RBCM), with a celebration
>  punctuated by flamenco dancing, poetry reading and Cantonese opera
>  performance. The Honourable Steven Point, Lieutenant-Governor of
>  British Columbia; Stan Hagen, Minister of Tourism, Sport and the
>  Arts; and Chief Andy Thomas of the Esquimalt Nation, also made
>  presentations. Created and constructed by Royal BC Museum staff, the
>  930-square metre (10,000-square foot) exhibition is the centrepiece
>  of a six-part project designed to celebrate British Columbia's 150th
>  anniversary as a Crown Colony. "In this exhibition, you'll meet
>  innovators, adventurers, creative thinkers and trend setters," said
>  RBCM CEO Pauline Rafferty at this morning's event. "You'll discover
>  some things about BC's history that will surprise you. And you'll
>  see how British Columbians of today are adding to the story of this
>  province." With financial support from the provincial government,
>  and in keeping with the province-wide BC150 Years celebrations, Free
>  Spirit showcases BC's history - but not in a traditional sense. This
>  is history as seen through the eyes of ordinary and extraordinary
>  British Columbians, glimpses into the lives and events that have
>  made this province what it is today. The exhibition features more
>  than 400 rarely seen artifacts, specimens, documents, and hundreds
>  of archival images, film and audio clips from the Royal BC Museum
>  and BC Archives collections. Actors in historic costume, interactive
>  kiosks and The Party - an artistic installation featuring 150
>  significant British Columbians of yesterday and today - add to the
>  visitor experience of BC's past, present and future. "Not only do we
>  have a world-class exhibition in Free Spirit, but also a
>  multi-faceted project that will touch every corner of the province,"
>  said Tourism, Sport and the Arts Minister Stan Hagen. "The CP BC
>  Spirit of 150 Rail Tour and Free Spirit Conservation Tour will bring
>  rare artifacts to communities across the province. Through the
>  online People's History project, British Columbians can record their
>  stories - in words, video and photos - as a permanent, living legacy
>  for their children and grandchildren." Free Spirit: Stories of You,
>  Me and BC-the exhibition - runs until Jan. 11, 2009. Also up and
>  running is the Free Spirit website (www.freespiritbc.ca), featuring
>  The People's History Project - a venue for all British Columbians to
>  tell stories about life in BC. A series of multicultural
>  performances starts next month, and in May, a commemorative coffee
>  table book will be released. The CP BC Spirit of 150 Rail Tour takes
>  place in June; the Free Spirit Conservation Tour, presented by BC
>  Hydro Power Smart, will begin this fall.
>
>  The Royal BC Museum, a provincial crown corporation, collects,
>  preserves and interprets artifacts, specimens and documents that
>  tell the story of British Columbia. As the provincial museum and
>  archives, the RBCM proudly shares that story with the world through
>  its research, exhibitions and public programs. For more information
>  on the Royal BC Museum, visit _www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca_ 
<http://www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca>  or call
>  1-888-447-7977.

-  30  -
>
>  Contact:        
>  Diane Dakers, Communications and Media Relations Manager
>  Royal BC Museum Corporation (250) 387-2101                           
>  ddakers@royalbcmuseum.bc.ca
>

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