The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), organizer of the Canadian tour of The Warrior Emperor and China’s Terracotta Warriors exhibition, announced today that the out-of-country loan of Terracotta artifacts from China is unable to be extended beyond one year to Canada. As a result, the museums that planned to exhibit the artifacts during the second year of the tour, Calgary's Glenbow Museum and the Royal BC Museum will be unable to do so. The exhibition will travel as planned to Montreal’s Museum of Fine Arts to a highly-anticipated opening in February 2011, as this scheduled stop is within the one-year time frame.
The Warrior Emperor and China’s Terracotta Army is achieving record attendance levels in Toronto, and an equivalent reaction was expected for subsequent western Canada venues. The Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Centre, People’s Republic of China, however has confirmed a one-year limit on the travel of these artifacts to all future exhibitions around the world due to an increased focus on their long term preservation.
“The ROM is disappointed this fascinating exhibition will not be travelling to western Canada,” said Janet Carding, ROM Director and CEO. “While we understand that the decision is based on increasing measures to ensure the artifacts are preserved for future generations, we regret fewer Canadians will have the opportunity to experience China’s rich heritage and witness this remarkable archaeological discovery first hand.”
"While we accept the decision, we feel it is a missed opportunity to share this important historical and cultural exhibition with Albertans," said Kirstin Evenden, Glenbow Museum's President and CEO. "However, we are very fortunate to announce a new exhibition, Watch Me Move: The Story of Animation (working title), from the Barbican Art Gallery in London, England. Glenbow is the exclusive Canadian venue for this major international exhibition that will appeal to visitors of all ages and provide opportunities for our business, tourism and cultural partners."
“We are extremely disappointed that the Royal BC Museum will not have the opportunity as planned to give British Columbians a rare look at this extraordinary archaeological discovery and share China's cultural legacy with our visitors," said Pauline Rafferty, CEO of the Royal BC Museum.
The Warrior Emperor and China’s Terracotta Army, which opened at the ROM on June 26, 2010 and runs until January 2, 2011, will now return to China following its engagement at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts from February 11 to June 26, 2011.
Additional Media contacts:
Glenbow Museum
Tanis Shortt, Manager
Marketing & Communications
403.268.4217
Royal BC Museum
Media Enquiries
250.387.3207