Objectives and Results -- Inter-cultural Understanding and Dialogue

The changing ethnic composition of the country, and developments relating to the First Peoples of Canada, highlight the need for greater inter-cultural understanding and dialogue in Canada.

Through its exhibitions, its programmes and its unique relationship with the First Peoples of Canada, the Corporation did its share, in 1995-1996, to improve inter-cultural understanding and dialogue among Canadians.

Objective

To promote greater inner-cultural understanding and dialogue.

Results

• The expanded Children's Museum exceeded expectations in terms of attention and critical acclaim. Its success reaffirmed the Corporation's commitment to the completion of its exhibition spaces to meet revenue, attendance, and corporate objectives.

  ---

  Children's Museum -- 275,000 (attendance targets); 298,842 (actual)

  ---

• Research on the permanent exhibitions of the First Peoples Hall continued to be a priority. Preliminary design work began, and the base building fit-up was completed in March 1996. The Hall will officially open in 1997. As a preview, three exhibitions -- Utopia Body Painting, Wave Eaters: Native Watercraft in Canada and Edward Poitras -- will open in June 1996.
• Research work on communities with origins in Russia, Indo-China, the Middle East, Scandinavia, and Italy continued in relation to the planned special exhibitions programme.
• The exhibitions presented in the Arts and Traditions Hall were very successful. As planned, seven exhibitions were shown in this Hall.
• As experienced elsewhere in Canada's Capital Region, the Cultures Canada and the See and Hear the World programmes did not attract as high a level of attendance as anticipated. These programmes are being critically reviewed with a view to improving their performance.

  ---

  See and Hear the World -- 5,500 (attendance targets); 1,305 (actual)
  Cultures Canada -- 4,500 (attendance targets); 4,215 (actual)

  ---

• The Aboriginal Training Programme in Museum Practices continued to reinforce the Corporation's commitment to First Peoples in Canada. During the year, a short-term training programme was also introduced to facilitate the involvement of Inuit in the Programme. Three Inuit participated in it. The CMCC and the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College have signed an agreement for the development of cooperative projects to foster the cultures of aboriginal peoples. Students enrolled at the College will be able to obtain credits for their eight-month training at the Corporation.
• The CMC collaborated with the Japanese government and the Commemorative Association for the Japan World Exposition (1970), to develop and install a Japanese Zen Garden, which was officially opened at the CMC on September 22, 1995.

Table of Contents