2003–2004 at the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation
A challenging year that ended on a high note
Gatineau, Quebec, October 26, 2004 — Despite the severe impact of the SARS outbreak on the Canadian tourism industry in 2003 and other concerns for potential visitors, the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation (CMCC) achieved major success in 2003–2004. This is one of the highlights described in the Corporation’s annual report tabled yesterday in the House of Commons.
The report sets out the main challenges and achievements during the past year for the Corporation, which includes the Canadian Museum of Civilization (CMC) and the Canadian War Museum (CWM).
“In 2003, like other cultural and tourism attractions, the Corporation’s two Museums were hit by the drop in international and domestic visitors due to fears about SARS and other concerns such as the war in Iraq,” said Dr. Victor Rabinovitch, President and Chief Executive Officer of the CMCC. “But after a difficult summer and early autumn, we experienced a period of tremendous success. The winter season, which is normally slow, gave us four months in a row of record attendance.”
As the 2003–2004 Annual Report explains, the Canadian Museum of Civilization set new visitor records for every month from December 2003 to March 2004. The great popularity of the exhibition Ancient Treasures and the Dead Sea Scrolls, together with other activities and offerings, led to a 20 per cent increase in visitors compared with the same period in the previous year. As a result, total attendance at the Museum during the year hit its budgeted target of 1,350,000 visitors.
Dr. Rabinovitch noted that Ancient Treasures and the Dead Sea Scrolls attracted 131,000 visitors in just four months. Moreover, the lecture series Understanding the Dead Sea Scrolls — presented as part of the exhibition — was an equally outstanding success. This series of talks by biblical scholars and archaeologists was so popular that each lecture had to be delivered twice in order to meet audience demand.
For the Canadian War Museum, 2003–2004 was also a very active and productive year as work advanced on the construction and exhibition development for the new Museum, scheduled to open in May 2005.
“The construction of the new Canadian War Museum — the Corporation’s major current project — progressed on schedule last year,” explained Claudette Roy, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the CMCC. “The new Museum is the most important cultural institution to be developed in the National Capital Region in over a decade, and is of immense national significance.”
Another high point for 2003–2004 was the exceptional outcome of the new Canadian War Museum’s fundraising campaign, Passing the Torch. This campaign has now surpassed its $15 million objective to become the most successful fundraising effort ever for a federal cultural institution.
HighlightsThe following are the main highlights of the Corporation’s 2003–2004 fiscal year:- Special exhibitions: 11 special exhibitions opened at the CMC and three at the CWM.
- Travelling exhibitions: 12 exhibitions from the CMC travelled to 20 venues; five exhibitions from the CWM travelled to eight venues.
- Completion of the Canada Hall: The Corporation achieved a major landmark by completing the 3,000 square metre (32,000 square feet) Canada Hall with two new modules on the West Coast. The Hall is the CMC’s largest and most visited exhibition.
- The new Canadian War Museum: The construction of the new building on LeBreton Flats, near downtown Ottawa, progressed on schedule. Excavation was completed in the spring, and the concrete structure was poured during the summer. The building was completely enclosed by the winter, and work moved indoors.
- Fundraising: Passing the Torch, the fundraising campaign in support of the new CWM, surpassed its $15 million objective.
- Civilization.ca: The Corporation’s Web site received 6 million individual visits, compared to 4.3 million in the previous year.
- Attendance: The CMC received 1,350,000 visitors and 116,000 people visited the CWM.
- Revenues: The Corporation’s on-site revenues remained stable at $8.8 million.
A copy of the 2003–2004 Annual Report of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation can be downloaded from the Corporation’s Web site: http://www.civilization.ca/societe/annrpt03/arpt0304e.pdf
Media Information:
Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Museum of Civilization
Tel.: (819) 776-7167
Media Relations Officer
Canadian Museum of Civilization
Tel.: (819) 776-7169
Fax: (819) 776-7187
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