KITCHENER, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – Aug. 13, 2010) – On April 15, 1912, Titanic, the world’s largest ship, sank after colliding with an iceberg. This fall, 98 years later, The Museum in downtown Kitchener will pay tribute to the tragedy which continues to resonate in Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition. The exhibition will showcase more than 150 legendary artifacts recovered from the Ship’s debris field offering visitors an expressive look at this iconic Ship and the stories of its passengers.
Over the past 15 years, more than 22 million people have seen this powerful exhibition in major museums worldwide – from Chicago to Los Angeles and Paris to London. It has been designed with a focus on the legendary RMS Titanic’s compelling human stories, best told through authentic artifacts and extensive room re-creations. Visitors are quickly drawn back in time to 1912, receiving a replica boarding pass just like an actual passenger aboard Titanic. They begin their chronological journey through the life of Titanic, moving through the ship’s construction, to life on board, to the ill-fated sinking and amazing artifact rescue efforts. They will marvel at the re-created accommodations, and press their palms against an iceberg while learning of countless stories of heroism and humanity.
The Museum was in negotiations for the exhibition for several months and was finally able to officially secure it after receiving positive news of ongoing operational funding from the local municipal governments this past spring. The Museum also has BMO Financial Group to thank as the presenting sponsor of the show. “As ongoing supporters of arts and culture, we at BMO are thrilled to have been given the opportunity to be the presenting sponsor of this captivating exhibit,” said Janet Peddigrew, Vice President, BMO Bank of Montreal. “Titanic is one of the most legendary icons of the past one hundred years and is a must see for everyone.”
“The Museum is so thankful to the municipalities and to BMO for their support because we simply could not have brought an exhibit of this scale without them,” explains David Marskell, Chief Executive Officer at The Museum. “As a result, this exhibit will help the local economy by bringing out of area visitors and will awe, inspire and enlighten children, students and families in this Region.”
After successful runs of other transformative exhibits including Andy Warhol’s Factory 2009 and Our Body: The Universe Within, The Museum will continue to present content with a blend of art, science and technology by focusing in on the science of Titanic. School programs, speaker series, camps and workshops will not only highlight the historical aspects of the ship and its stories, but will also seek to answer related scientific based questions, including those around climate change, floatation and ship design.
RMS Titanic, Inc. is the only company permitted by law to recover objects from the wreck of Titanic. The Company was granted Salvor-in-Possession rights to the wreck site of Titanic by a United States federal court in 1994 and has conducted seven research and recovery expeditions to Titanic rescuing more than 5,500 artifacts. RMS Titanic Inc. will be diving back to the Titanic wreck site on August 18th and will be at sea for 20 days. While no artifacts are being recovered during this dive, the Dive team will be virtually raising the Titanic and will be making available to the public a view of the wreck site as never seen before.
“I believe each person who is touched by the story of RMS Titanic comes away with a special relationship with the lost ocean liner, states Cheryl Mure, Vice President of Education for RMS Titanic, Inc. “We look forward to presenting Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition at The Museum and allowing each visitor to further understand the Ship’s legacy and her remarkable stories that still move us today.”
Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition will open at The Museum in Downtown Kitchener this September 23rd and run through January 23, 2011. Ticket information is still to be released, however educators are able to book their class trips beginning now by emailing [email protected] and are encouraged to do so before spaces fill. Curriculum based programs will be offered from Kindergarten to grade 12 and will cost students $12 each to visit the exhibit.