Art and War exhibition a huge success attracting 111,500 visitors

Art and War exhibition a huge success attracting 111,500 visitors

Ottawa, Ontario, October 19, 2005 — The Canadian War Museum’s World Première showing of Art and War: Australia, Britain and Canada in the Second World War this summer was a tremendous success. More than 111,500 people visited the exhibition of 96 works drawn from the Second World War art collections of the Australian War Memorial, the Imperial War Museum (London, England) and the Canadian War Museum.

“We are proud to have contributed to an international exhibition which paints a different side of war and its effects,” said Mr. J. (Joe) Geurts, Director and CEO of the Canadian War Museum. “We are pleased to see that visitors are responding to CWM’s new home and exhibitions. Its success demonstrates that visitors are interested in new and original ways of presenting Canada’s military history.”

This exhibition had its world première during the opening of the Canadian War Museum in May. It will travel next to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra and conclude its tour at the Imperial War Museum in London, England. All three institutions collaborated in developing this exhibition.

As part of the Art and War, children were encouraged to make their own examples of war art. The resulting pieces will form a large mosaic (2.4 m. by 6.1 m.), which will be unveiled during Remembrance Week (November 5 to 11).

Attendance at the Canadian War Museum (CWM) and at the Canadian Museum of Civilization (CMC) continues to be strong. Regional tourism agencies credit the museums for helping the industry rebound over last year. Ottawa Tourism identified the new CWM as a “signature event” that has surpassed expectations and Outaouais Tourism confirms that the CMC is the top cultural attraction in western Quebec. Named one of WHERE Magazine’s Top 10 Attractions this summer, and noted in the July 1, 2005 edition of MacLeans Magazine as worth celebrating, the Canadian War Museum has been receiving great reviews from journalists across the country.

Jacques Burelle, President and CEO of Ottawa Tourism, sums it up: “Hats off to these two institutions for leading the way in educating and entertaining visitors to Canada’s Capital Region and showcasing our cultural richness.”

Information (media) :

Pierre Leduc
Communications Officer
Canadian War Museum
Phone: (819) 776-8608
E-mail: pierre.leduc@warmuseum.ca.

Christina Selin
Senior Media Relations Officer
Canadian War Museum
Telephone: (819) 776-8607
E-mail: christina.selin@warmuseum.ca.

Fax: (819) 776-8623