Victoria Children’s Museum is getting a little help from a notable friend.

Through a partnership with Science World at Telus World of Science in Vancouver, the Victoria-based association has the ability to borrow exhibits and educational materials from the provincial organization. All they need to do now is find the space to put it.

“Our biggest challenge is locating appropriate space,” said Marilyn Harris, Victoria Children’s Museum president. “We have done a lot of work on trying to locate space over the last six weeks.”

There are some promising talks, although it is too early to say where, Harris said, noting they are looking across the region. At least one board member is pushing for a West Shore location, however.

“If we can get it out on the West Shore, economically it will be a coup for us,” said board member Mike Wicks.

The space needs to be a minimum of 5,000 square feet with adequate washrooms. It should also be on a transit route and have plenty of parking. Just what would go inside of it is yet to be determined.

The Science World materials are available because the Vancouver centre is hosting the 2014 Winter Olympic Games display during the 2010 Games. Some of the exhibits will be moved out to make room for the Russian representatives, said Pauline Finn, Science World vice-president of community engagement. They will either go into storage or be lent to the museum association at no cost.

“We are keen to help the Victoria Children’s Museum in whatever way we can,” Finn said. “We are still working out a lot of details.”

The Science World “mother-ship” may be in Vancouver, Finn said, but the not-for-profit society that runs it has a provincial mandate to bring science to all communities.

They do so with travelling exhibits, school visits and community science days. Loaning some installations to the museum association is just another outreach opportunity, Finn said.

“It fits in with who we are and what we are looking to achieve,” she added. “It’s all very exciting. It’s a new model for us to explore outreach beyond the Lower Mainland community.”

What materials and exhibits would be loaned out depends on the space found, Finn said.

The fact the exhibit will be temporary also has bearing on what is brought over, Harris said, noting things such as water exhibits require too much infrastructure for temporary set up. 

The real push to get a children’s museum on the South Island started eight years ago, Harris said.

The association has a business plan and hosts small-scale programs throughout the region, but has yet to find a place to call home permanently.

There is a lot of community support, and now with the partnership with Science World, the group is “going great guns now,” Harris said.

A children’s museum is a space where children can learn through play. “It gives them the opportunity to touch and play and learn at their own pace,” Harris said.

“The fabulous learning aspect of a children’s museum is there are no ‘no touch’ signs.”

Having such a high-profile exhibit is a great opportunity to show the region the value of a children’s museum, Harris said.

The association hopes to secure a location by Nov. 1, which would see the exhibit open as early as mid February 2010.

Depending on the location and the loan agreement, the museum association would like to see the exhibit run throughout the summer and into the first part of the 2010 school year.

Anyone with available space or ideas for a location is asked to contact Harris at mharris@childrensmuse.org. For more information on Victoria Children’s Museum go to www.childrensmuse.org.

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