Museum numbers low in search of Treasures
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Updated: August 28, 2009 8:36 AM
Treasures: The World's Cultures from the British Musem exhibit at the Royal B.C. Museum has been both exciting and disappointing for organizers.
The tour of world cultures through seven continents and 300 artifacts spans more than 1.5 million years, but with a month left of the exhibit, the museum hasn't met its target of 250,000 visitors.
Pauline Rafferty, museum CEO, said people who come are "awe-inspired" and "enthralled" with the displays, but a combination of warm summer weather and fewer travellers to the Island has hurt the number of visits to the exhibit.
Rafferty wouldn't say how many people have seen the display, but said they could "come close" to target by the time the exhibit closes Sept. 30.
In one afternoon, visitors can learn to wrap a mummy in Africa, visit the world's first cities in ancient Mesopotamia, experience technological advances in Europe, Asia and Oceania and see how cultures have adapted in the Americas and the modern world.
"I would really hope they would take away the amazing cultures that have existed and continue to exist around the world and if you only have a short period of time and you want to get that sense of world culture then this is the exhibition to go to," she said.
As an added incentive, travellers coming from the Lower Mainland on B.C. Ferries can now show their receipt and receive two-for-one entry passes to the musem.
Next month, the CBC's Gregor Craigie will lead Thursday Night at the Museum Cafe, an event focusing on how different cultures commemorate the dead. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 17. Tickets are $10 at the door or $8 in advance.
For more information visit www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca
lweighton@vicnews.com
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