Who said things slow down in July? At the Royal BC Museum, we’re ramping up the learning fun for all ages, and hosting summer parties to be proud of:
- Maya: The Great Jaguar Rises continues until Dec. 31, 2019. The spectacular world-premiere exhibition spotlights the mystery, legacy and resilience of one of the world’s greatest civilizations—the Maya of Central America—and has earned rave reviews for its magnificent (and rarely seen) artifacts, multi-sensory displays and family-friendly interactives. Come for the exhibition and stay for the gift shop, featuring beautiful sustainably sourced, fairly traded handcrafts from Guatemala. Included with admission or membership.
- There’s still a little space in our summer camps for kids and adults! Treat your budding archaeologist to the play-based Mini-Maya camp for ages 4-6, July 22 to 26, 9 am to noon; $140 per person, 10% discount for members. For grown-ups, there’s a day-long deep dive into the BC Archives on July 20, and on July 26, the focus will be on the feature exhibition, Maya: The Great Jaguar Rises. 10 am to 3 pm; $50 per person, 10% discount for members.
- Salute the maple leaf with three days of Canada Day celebrations on the plaza of the Royal BC Museum. Join us from 1 to 8 pm on June 29-30, for more than a dozen performances by diverse local talent, ranging from old-time gypsy jazz and high-energy folk/roots to Cuban salsa, taiko drumming and Indigenous dance. On July 1, the party runs from 1 to 3 pm; come early to secure a good spot for viewing the evening fireworks over the Inner Harbour and don’t forget the Penny Carnival of kids of all ages. Free.
- On July 6, show your colours at Night Shift: Pride, the Royal BC Museum’s newest 19+ event, and the best Pride Party on Vancouver Island! Celebrate with three full floors of extraordinary entertainment from 8 pm to midnight. Dance it out with high-energy DJs, or join Madame Gouda Gabor and her bordello babes as they shake up the quiet streets of Old Town. Take a dance lesson from a vogue-master and when you need to recover your swagger, check out craft stations, photo booths, and archival displays documenting the history of Pride. Fuel up with on-site food and drinks! Tickets: $40 per person; includes admission to all galleries.
- The Royal BC Museum’s new Indigenous Summer Arts Studio Program debuts next to Wawadiťła (Mungo Martin House) during the sixth annual Victoria Indigenous Cultural Festival June 21-23. The program showcases working Indigenous artists and is a great opportunity for visitors to learn cultural practices from the artists in residence. The program also provides a venue for young and emerging artists to be mentored by established artists. Free; opens formally July 3 until September 13, Wednesday to Friday, 10am to 5pm.
- Something new from an old favourite: the much-loved Old Town gallery comes alive every Tuesday in July between 2 and 2:30 pm with Salooning and Crooning, a lively musical performance highlighting the fascinating and sometimes scandalous history of alcohol in British Columbia. Included with admission or membership.
- In the Pocket Gallery (off Clifford Carl Hall) on until August 30, In SafeHands highlights the work of the international charity SafeHands for Mothers. Featuring the photographic work of founder Nancy Durrell McKenna, the exhibition provides viewers with a broad understanding of the complex and devastating challenges facing women in the developing world. Free. The Pocket Gallery is sponsored by Helijet. For more information about SafeHands for Mothers, visit https://www.safehands.org/.
For up-to-date event information, visit our online calendar
