Success Stories

PCH and the Jade Suit of Princess Douwan

An outstanding collection of jade objects never before seen outside of China is on display at Ottawa's National Gallery. And the exhibit wouldn't have opened without the support of a Canadian Heritage program.

After stops in Victoria, Vancouver, Hamilton, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Quebec City, the exhibit Jade, the Ultimate Treasure of Ancient China arrived in the nation's capital on October 4. It brings together 120 magnificent jade treasures created between c. 7000 BC and 1911 AD. The touring exhibit is supported by the Canada Travelling Exhibitions Indemnification Program.

At the opening, a special ceremony was held to unveil one of the highlights of the exhibit - the 2,000-year-old burial suit of Princess Douwan of the Western Han dynasty (206 BC to 25 AD). At the ceremony, National Gallery director Pierre Théberge thanked the Department for its support: "I must mention that this exhibit is made possible by Canadian Heritage and a wonderful program called the Canada Travelling Exhibitions Indemnification Program," he said.

Keith Wickens, manager of the indemnification program, points out "that through the program, the Government of Canada assumes most of the risk for loss and damage to cultural treasures in travelling exhibitions. This permits heritage institutions to make better use of their limited resources by greatly reducing the high cost of commercial insurance."

Marc Bédard, program officer, says the "program provides a means for heritage institutions to host travelling exhibitions that are otherwise difficult to obtain. The program thereby provides the means for Canadians to see culturally rich exhibitions such as Jade, the Ultimate Treasure of Ancient China, in communities across Canada."

The end result is that Canadians have access to a wider range of cultural works.

Created in December 1999, the Program reviewed its first applications in the spring of 2000. To qualify, exhibitions must have a minimum value of $500,000 and indemnity is limited to $450 million. Other shows that have toured the country with the program's assistance include Richelieu: Art and Power and The Group of Seven in Western Canada.

The Jade exhibit's Canadian tour was organized by the Canadian Foundation for the Preservation of Chinese Cultural and Historical Treasures. Foundation chair Dr. Nelly Ng is bringing Canadian technologies to China to assist in the preservation of treasures in the Three Gorges area.

Jade, the Ultimate Treasure of Ancient China was displayed at the National Gallery until January 5, 2003.