EVERYONE IS INVITED. Becoming a People's Museum - BC Museums Association
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FEATURE ARTICLE
O N E I S I N V I T E D.
E VE RY
Becoming a People’s Museum
Colleen Sharpe called on to be accessible to increas- tive, family-friendly spaces that re-
ingly diverse communities. This is to flect Surrey’s rich past, culturally di-
Since the “Cabinet of Curiosity” ensure that public institutions be- verse present and its future as a city
model introduced three centuries come truly reflective of the people of innovation and creativity. Cur-
ago, museums have become radical- they serve so that all people can en- rently the Museum is undergoing
ly accessible. The creation of public gage and participate. As a municipal a $15.8 million expansion that will
museum buildings, many of which museum, the Museum of Surrey has add 12,000 square feet of space to the
offer free admission or free admis- a mandate to represent and include existing Museum. The new building
sion days, online collections and vir- Surrey citizens in the development has considered diversity in its very
tual exhibitions have ensured pub- of its exhibits and programs. design and seeks to become a com-
lic access for all – the museum is no munity hub. The expanded Museum
longer an institution for researchers Opened in 2005, the Museum tells will offer additional public spaces
and elites, but for anyone who has the historical and contemporary sto- for special events, new gallery space
a desire to explore and learn. For ries of Surrey residents. Exhibitions for community-curated exhibits and
decades these museums have been in the Museum aim to create interac- celebrations, and importantly, an In-
digenous Hall curated by Surrey's
Indigenous communities.
The Museum of Surrey
must respond to this
reality in programs
and exhibits to hang
the mirrors that
reflect citizens and
stakeholders
Along with the expansion project,
the Museum spent over a year devel-
Above: Urban Fabric: Patterns of Our Lives, Partial view of exhibition space and oping its mission and strategic plan
introduction panel. Guildford Town Centre, Surrey, June 2017. to truly declare its commitment to
Photo credit: Colleen Sharpe inclusion. Adopted in February 2017,
16
FEATURE ARTICLE
experiencing dynamic demographic change in its pop-
ulation, it is crucial that the Museum of Surrey reflect
and engage these diverse populations. The Museum of
Surrey must respond to this reality in programs and
exhibits to hang the mirrors that reflect citizens and
stakeholders.
In 2017 the exhibits department has had the opportunity
to implement the Museum’s new mission. Three of these
recent exhibitions offer insights into how diversity can
Above: From the exhibit Vimy Souvenirs this image was part
be used to define exhibit themes, content, and outreach.
of the interpretive panel beside a display of a First World
War wheelchair. Photo: American World War One Veterans
at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C 1918, Courtesy of Vimy Souvenir
National Library of Medicine, USA.
In April, the First Collection of the Month exhibition was
launched. The goal of this new exhibit series is to display
items from the collection on a monthly basis. The objects
From practical to sentimental, the are selected in association with events and celebrations
objects were focal points for powerful tied to the Surrey community.
messages of culture, values, and family
Vimy Souvenir, was a collection of artifacts and archival
history.
documents that honored the 100th anniversary of the
Battle of Vimy Ridge. Included as a standalone display
the Museum’s mission is to “ignite imaginations and con- was a physically prominent artifact, a wheelchair used
nect Surrey's diverse citizens and communities. [To] con- by a WWI veteran. This artifact offered an opportu-
tribute to community life by celebrating Surrey’s past, nity to connect to the contemporary story of persons
present and future through innovative, dynamic and with disabilities and offered a perspective on war that
delightful learning, storytelling, and creating shared ex- is unique and relatable. The wheelchair was displayed
periences.” The vision is to be the best people museum in with a photo that depicted a wheelchair of the exact type
Canada by connecting people, communities and stories. with American veterans who had lost limbs during the
First World War. The interpretive text told the story of
But who are the Museum of Surrey’s “people”? Commu- the formation of the War Amps organization, and offered
nities are filled with endless layers and permutations a connection between those veterans of The Great War
of diversity like age, ethnicity, language, religion and who returned home with debilitating injuries, and all
sexual orientation. For example, Surrey has emerged as persons who have struggled with limited mobility.
the primary destination for Government-Assisted Ref-
ugees (GARs) in Metro Vancouver. In 2001, 37% of the What We Bring
Surrey population was a member of a visible minority;
now more than half are from a visible minority, of which In conjunction with Canada’s 150th anniversary, the
almost 60% are South Asian. With the City of Surrey exhibition What We Bring was mounted to celebrate
17
FEATURE ARTICLE
the people who formed this nation. have never visited. The shopping of installation, the exhibit team fre-
Each of three 50-year periods sum- centre is a mecca for people of many quently engaged in conversations
marized waves of immigration to cultures and economic standing, with visitors from the South Asian
Canada; key groups of immigrants, including those with limited trans- community looking at the dress. The
including refugees, were acknowl- portation options. Urban Fabric, reaction to the inclusion of this item,
edged. The introductory text read, Patterns of Our Lives consisted of six on display in a shopping centre, was
“On Canada’s 150th anniversary, it is display cases, 40 objects, and four- one of surprise and delight.
important to remember that diverse teen foot tall enlargements of archi-
waves of immigration have shaped val photos in a 200 foot linear space. Also included was a cassette tape
the Canada of today - a vibrant The theme emphasized the value of Sri Lankan band, Rajeev and
mosaic of peoples.” The exhibition of unique individuals that come to- the Clan, and several large archival
moved beyond collection items to gether to comprise a greater whole. images reflecting Surrey’s diverse
include items borrowed from Sur- The exhibition introduction reads youth. After two months the exhibit
rey residents. The exhibit contained “Single threads unite when woven underwent a revision to accommo-
items brought by immigrants when and in joining become an object of date changes to the borrowed space.
forced to choose from a lifetime in strength and beauty. Likewise each Additional images were selected
another country and told the sto- of our lives forms a strand in a stron- such as a photo of two Sikh men
ry of that object. From practical to ger, more engaged community.” The outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gud-
sentimental, the objects were focal text went on to relate this directly wara temple (1987). Another image,
points for powerful messages of cul- to Surrey stating: “You are invited to representing the 1960s, in Crescent
ture, values, and family history. In discover the treasures, stories, and Beach depicted two women and is
addition to objects borrowed from people that have woven Surrey’s titled “Couple Relaxing in the Sun”.
the community, donors of items urban fabric.” It is unknown if this image refers
already in the collection were con- to a LGBT+ couple or if it is titled
tacted to tell their stories in more using a colloquial term from a by-
detail. Highlights from communi- gone era. It was selected purposely
Dialogue will be
ty members included a dress from for its ambiguity because it offered a
Delhi, work boots from an Italian improved by seeking historic possibility and the potential
immigrant, and a small booklet of out conversations with to resonate and reflect an under-rep-
the 1996 South African Constitution community members resented community.
written in Swahili.
– they will be invited
Future Plans
Urban Fabric, to inform and curate
exhibitions. The Museum is planning for future
Patterns of Our Lives exhibitions to foster inclusion and
storytelling. The entrance to the his-
Thanks to a partnership with Guild- The exhibit included a loaned Pun- tory gallery will be revised for the
ford Town Centre, the Museum was jabi lehnga wedding dress that de- 2018 reopening to emulate the attri-
able to reach into the geographic scribed South Asian immigration as butes of a town square, an urban fea-
heart of Surrey. This busy shopping well as Surrey’s Punjabi Market. The ture resonant with many world plac-
centre provided an opportunity to dress was one of the most popular es as a gathering space. In this area,
awaken Surrey to its Museum, and artifacts in the exhibit based on the a “Show and Tell” wall will invite
make contact with people who may attention it received. During a week people to contribute their personal
18FEATURE ARTICLE
family treasures. History exhibits Colleen Sharpe is Curator of Exhi-
will be revised gradually over time bitions at the Surrey Museum and
to ensure community members are has previously worked for Glenbow
involved and properly represented Museum, The Military Museums
in the process. For example, a drum and The Nickle Arts Museum. She
used in the Punjabi festival of Vai- holds degrees in Museum Studies,
sakhi will be added to acknowledge Archeology and Heritage from
Surrey’s Vaisakhi parade as the larg- the University of Witwatersrand,
est outside of India. South Africa and from the Univer-
sity of Calgary.
Museum of Surrey programming
will tell the stories of Surrey’s com-
munities through awareness, dia-
logue and collaboration. To improve
awareness, portable exhibitions will
travel to special events and the mu-
seum will continue to partner with
organizations to reach new commu-
nities. Dialogue will be improved by
seeking out conversations with com-
munity members – they will be invit-
ed to inform and curate exhibitions.
The emphasis is to empower people
to collaborate in the creation of ex-
hibitions. In addition, a submissions
policy and selection process will be
developed that will invite communi-
ty members to propose exhibitions.
The intent of Museum of Surrey’s vi-
sion could be described as a Talking
Stick. When matters of great con-
cern came before a council, the
leading elder would hold the Talking
Stick and begin the discussion. The
stick was passed from one individ-
ual to another until all who wished
to speak had done so. In this way
Museum of Surrey seeks to use the
museum itself as the talking stick
and provide a voice and empower-
ment to the communities of Surrey.
Above: Exhibit detail, Urban Fabric: Patterns of Our Lives,
19
lengha wedding dress, Guildford Town Centre, Surrey.
Photo credit: Colleen SharpeYou can also read
