FAQs
General
What is the Museum’s mission?
When did the ROM first open?
How many visitors does the Museum receive?
What were some of the reasons for the renovation and expansion?
Who is the architect for the addition to the ROM?
How much bigger is the new ROM?
What’s happening at the site of the former McLaughlin Planetarium?
How much will the renovation and expansion cost?
What are the dining and shopping amenities at the ROM?
I have an idea for an exhibition. How do I submit an exhibition proposal?
How do I request free tickets/donations for my charitable organization/fundraiser?
What is the Museum’s mission?
The ROM will be a world leader in communicating its research and collections to increase understanding of the interdependent domains of cultural and natural diversity, their relationships, significance, preservation, and conservation.
When did the ROM first open?
The Museum was established by an Act of the Ontario Legislature in April 1912. The original building along Philosophers' Walk (now the west wing of the ROM), with the main entrance on Bloor Street W., opened to the public on March 19, 1914.
How many visitors does the Museum receive?
Annually, the Museum welcomes between 750,000 to over a million visitors. After all the stages of the Renaissance ROM project are completed (in 2008), the Museum will have the ability to accommodate up to 1.6 million visitors a year, including 215,000 students.
What were some of the reasons for the renovation and expansion?
The ROM wished to put all of its major collections on permanent display, as well as increase the number of objects within each gallery. The expansion and renovation project, known as Renaissance ROM, generates new and renovated exhibition and gallery spaces, and showcases the collections in more comprehensive and dynamic ways. The ROM will be able to host larger travelling exhibitions, expand its educational and community programming, increase accessibility, and restore our historic buildings.
More Information
Who is the architect for the addition to the ROM?
The ROM’s new addition, the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal, and the renovations to the historic buildings, are designed by Daniel Libeskind in a joint venture with Toronto's Bregman + Hamann Architects.
How much bigger is the new ROM?
After Renaissance ROM, the Museum will have an additional 80,000 square feet of public space. The project will also renovate about 75% of the public spaces in the historic buildings.
What's happening at the site of the former McLaughlin Planetarium?
The McLaughlin Planetarium was closed in 1995. The building is temporarily being used by the Museum for office and storage space. The ROM is considering several proposals to develop the site at 90 Queen’s Park, known as ROM South, in partnership with a third party. No specific plan for the site has been proposed by a developer, or approved by the ROM. If the ROM decides to enter into an agreement to develop the site with a developer partner, the process will start with community consultation in an effort to find a proposal that creates a consensus on what should be done.
How much will the renovation and expansion cost?
The total cost for the Renaissance ROM project is $270-million.
What are the dining and shopping amenities at the ROM?
Located at the pinnacle of the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal, c5 Restaurant Lounge provides superlative five-star dining along with a spectacular view of downtown Toronto. On Level B1, Food Studio is a casual family restaurant dedicated to providing healthy menu options in an earth-friendly environment.
On Level 1, ROM Museum Store carries an amazing array of souvenirs, mementos and merchandise inspired by our permanent galleries and special exhibitions. Also available is an exclusive assortment of reproductions and adaptations of pieces from the ROM’s own collections. On Level B1, ROMkids Store offers toys, books and interactive fun for the kid in all of us.
I have an idea for an exhibition. How do I submit an exhibition proposal?
Proposals are reviewed by a number of staff to determine relevancy to our mandate and programming needs. The review process takes a few weeks to complete.
Exhibition proposals can be submitted to Exhibit Planning and Community Programs, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2C6 or e-mailed to christin@rom.on.ca. Proposals should include your curriculum vitae, an artist’s statement, when the work is available for exhibition and a small selection of visuals (photographs, slides).
Please Note: Well over a hundred proposals are reviewed annually with three or four selected. Exhibitions are booked about three years in advance.
How do I request free tickets/donations for my charitable organization/fundraiser?
The Museum is an agency of the Government of Ontario and a charitable organization. However, we are committed to assisting the fundraising efforts of other charitable organizations and community groups wherever possible. Every month, the ROM will award 45 one-day individual membership passes on a first come first serve basis. For information on submissions, see Requesting a Donation from the Royal Ontario Museum.
