The Manitoba Museum will expand and modernize Alloway Hall, its main exhibition gallery, with more than $5.3 million in support from the governments of Canada and Manitoba and The Winnipeg Foundation. This announcement was made by Canadian Heritage and Official Languages Minister Shelly Glover, Tourism, Culture, Heritage, Sport and Consumer Protection Minister Ron Lemieux and Rick Frost, chief executive officer of The Winnipeg Foundation.
“The Government of Canada knows that cultural institutions are important generators of economic growth, jobs and wealth in our communities,” said Minister Glover. “We are proud to support the renovation and expansion of Alloway Hall, so that Manitobans can continue to enjoy world-class exhibits in a state-of-the-art facility for years to come.”
“The Manitoba Museum is a local treasure and it’s important that we continue to support its efforts to showcase our history and heritage,” said Minister Lemieux. “We want the museum to continue showing visitors the many ways Manitoba truly is where Canada’s heart beats.”
The Manitoba government is providing $3,830,630 to the project, while the Government of Canada is investing $1,000,000 through the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Canada Cultural Spaces Fund. The Winnipeg Foundation has confirmed support of $500,000.
The expansion of Alloway Hall will see the space nearly double to more than 9,700 square feet. As a result, The Manitoba Museum will have greater capacity to bring large world-class touring exhibitions to the province.
“The expansion of Alloway Hall is a very exciting step for our museum, which will allow us to bring in the biggest and best travelling exhibits from around the world,” said Claudette Leclerc, executive director, The Manitoba Museum. “The success of past exhibits such as Dinosaurs Unearthed, Real Pirates and Wrapped: The Mummy of Pesed have been a tipping point for the museum. Together with Alloway World Exhibits Fund and our strategic partnerships, we believe a new, enlarged exhibition space is a major part of building an exciting and bold future for The Manitoba Museum.”
The improvements to the main exhibition gallery will also include upgrades to the heating and air conditioning system, the replacement of acoustical ceiling tiles and installation of terrazzo floors, a new theatrical lighting system, a new sound system and new security cameras.
“The Winnipeg Foundation is very pleased to support this project, which will enable the Museum to bring top-notch educational exhibits to Winnipeggers,” said Frost. “It is significant that Alloway Hall is named for our founder, William Forbes Alloway. His generosity and foresight continues to inspire our donors, who make this support possible.”
The majority of the renovation and expansion work of Alloway Hall is expected to be completed by the end of 2016. This project is the first phase in the museum’s major Capital Renewal Plan.
