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VICTORIA, BC—May is a busy month at the Royal BC Museum with the May 17 launch of a major new feature exhibition, Maya: The Great Jaguar Rises, and a host of related events and activities. Offerings include:
The annual Distinguished Lecture features Dr. Nikolai Grube, Guest Curator of the Maya exhibition, on the development of the Maya from 1000 BCE until modern times, and how new research has changed our understanding of Maya civilization. The $50 ticket includes exclusive pre-opening access to the exhibition. May 16, 7-10 pm, in Clifford Carl Hall.
The family-friendly Wonder Sunday series will dig deep into Maya civilization and culture—there will lots of hands-on activities with a focus on Maya architecture, writing, mathematics and astronomy. Meet on the second floor. May 5, 12, 19, 26, 1-3 pm; free with admission or membership.
Maya summer camps are now open for registration. Options include half-day, day-long and week-long camps throughout July and August for ages 4-6, 7-11, and 10-14. Fees vary by camp, but there is a 10 per cent discount for members. Camps fill quickly so sign up early!
Live at Lunch highlights Representation, Community Engagement and Museum Practices. Breaking from the traditional format, this conversational session between museum staff members will reveal some of the complexities that museum practitioners face in their efforts to promote and advance inclusive, productive engagement. May 1, noon-1 pm, Newcombe Conference Hall, by donation. The theme continues with It’s Complicated: A Case for Inclusion, on May 22, 5:15 pm–7 pm, when the Intercultural Association of Victoria and museum staff will facilitate a conversation about creating welcoming, safe and inclusive communities.
Island students take the spotlight in the new Learning Centre during the Southern Vancouver Island Heritage Fair May 10, 10 am-2 pm with displays celebrating Canada’s heritage and diversity. (The best will move on to the Provincial Heritage Fair to be held at the museum in July.) All welcome. And from 2-3 pm on May 18, Music at the Museum welcomes the Langley Senior B Ukulele Ensemble–19 10-to-15 year olds performing a repertoire that spans the 1950s through 1980s in Clifford Carl Hall. All welcome.
Fieldtrippers takes on space invaders—those nasty invasive plant species that threaten ecological diversity. Pull on your boots and mark Invasive Species Action Month with a Royal BC Museum botanist at Rithet’s Bog, the last remaining intact bog in the Victoria area. Pre-registration is required and the meeting place will be sent in advance to registered participants. Suitable for ages 10+. May 4, 1-3 pm; by donation.
On May 26 from 2-3:30 pm, archivist Sally Butterfield will offer an overview of how the BC Archives acquires new personal records and how they are made available for public use. Free for Friends of the BC Archives members; tickets $5 at the door of Newcombe Conference Hall.
Deemed “once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences” by Destination Canada, Behind the Scenes tours are limited to just 10 people. Sign-up begins at the information desk one hour before the tour time. On May 8 and 22 from 11:00 to 11:45 am, Mammal Matters will focus on the mammal collection; from 12:00 to 12:45 pm, Butterflies and More will reveal the entomology collection. Included with admission or membership.
About the Royal BC Museum: The Royal BC Museum explores the province’s human history and natural history, advances new knowledge and understanding of BC, and provides a dynamic forum for discussion and a place for reflection. The museum and archives celebrate culture and history, telling the stories of BC in ways that enlighten, stimulate and inspire. Located in Victoria on the traditional territory of the Lekwungen (Songhees and Xwsepsum Nations), we are a hub of community connections in BC–onsite, offsite and online–taking pride in our collective histories.
