Second time level of attendance achieved in Museum’s history
The Royal Ontario Museum welcomed its one millionth general admission visitor yesterday afternoon. This is the second year in a row that the ROM has achieved this level of attendance. Last year marked the first time in the ROM's history that one million general admission visitors came through its doors to visit its galleries and exhibitions. General admission attendance includes school visits and does not include special events and ticketed adult and children’s programs. Attendance is recorded for the fiscal year, April 1 to March 31.
Upon entering the ROM’s Bloor Street doors yesterday, Sharon Anderson of Scarborough, Ontario, and her family received a surprise greeting by ROM Director and CEO William Thorsell and Gordo the dinosaur mascot, accompanied by a musical flourish played by a “medieval knight”. Anderson received a one-year ROM Family Membership, dinner at Food Studio Café, a signed copy by author Kelvin Browne of the book Bold Visions: The Architecture of the Royal Ontario Museum, and a one-night stay at the Delta Chelsea Hotel, Downtown Toronto.
Anderson had visited the ROM only once before, many years ago, and it was the first time for all four girls. “The main reason I wanted to come was to spend time with family,” said Anderson. “I wanted to visit during March break to see the Bat Cave, and I know the ROM has so many great exhibits.”
“The ROM’s popularity continues to grow each year with visitors of all ages, which is particularly gratifying as the ROM is increasingly successful in reaching out to communities who may not have traditionally visited the Museum,” said Sal Badali, Chair of the Royal Ontario Museum Board of Trustees. “Since the opening of the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal, the potential of Renaissance ROM, the Museum’s transformation project, has been realized, as the ROM shares its collections and programs with millions of visitors from around the world. The ROM is clearly a strong cultural, social and educational force in our community.”
Throughout the 2009/2010 fiscal year ROM visitors enjoyed, among other offerings, Dead Sea Scrolls: Words That Changed the World, the ROM’s most successful exhibition in the past nine years, Vanity Fair Portraits: Photographs 1913- 2008, Fakes & Forgeries: Yesterday and Today, Dan Perjovschi: Late News as well as the new permanent galleries Life in Crisis: Schad Gallery of Biodiversity and the Gallery of Gems and Gold located in the Teck Suite of Galleries: Earth's Treasures.
Anticipation is building for the ROM's next major exhibition, The Warrior Emperor and China’s Terracotta Army, one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in history, opening in June 2010. The ROM is anticipating a new attendance record next year anchored by this unique Blockbuster exhibition created by the ROM specifically for this Canadian appearance.