Famed fossil marking ocean-land shift grabs spotlight in new Museum of Nature exhibit
More than 20 years after its discovery, a 375-million-year-old fossil creature called “tiktaalik” has crawled into public view at the Canadian Museum of Nature in downtown Ottawa. Tiktaalik roseae is a well-preserved fossil discovered in 2004 by a team of American paleontologists on Ellesmere Island in Nunavut and is a highlight in the McLeod Street museum’s new exhibit “Life Onto...
Technology and inclusive storytelling driving growth of Canadian museums
Interest in Canadian museums has grown rapidly thanks to the adoption of digital technologies and inclusive storytelling.
The Arctic is alive and some rare extinct rhino fossils tell us how
It has four toes, rather than the usual three. It is around one metre tall, small, like a carnival pony. And it has no horn. Some 23 million years ago, the creature roamed the High Arctic, crossing between North America and Eurasia — a feat researchers previously thought impossible. “It” is a recently discovered, extinct rhino. Epiatheracerium itjilik, the Arctic...
AI and GLAM: Emerging tech is changing museums and libraries
Pressure to apply AI tools to museum and gallery work is making professionals worry about how to preserve information they’ve been entrusted to protect.
City seeks public input for five-year plan to transform Ottawa’s cultural life
The City of Ottawa has begun a major public consultation aimed at creating a new five-year plan for the development of the capital’s cultural life. “This is the first city-wide cultural planning exercise since 2012 and aims to help the city better serve the evolving needs of Ottawa’s culturally diverse populations,” according to the official announcement in late March. Everything...
Museum of Nature mineralogist wins major prize for photographic gems
A Canadian Museum of Nature mineralogist has been awarded one of the field’s most prestigious prizes for his striking photographs of geological specimens. Michael Bainbridge, the Canadian Museum of Nature’s assistant curator of mineralogy and a highly accomplished photographer, was recently presented with the Carnegie Mineralogical Award at the annual Tuscon Gem and Mineral Show in Arizona, the largest of...
Money museum aquires ancient Roman coin, other ‘once in a lifetime’ items
What do a 1,700 year old Roman coin and a Canadian penny worth thousands of dollars have in common? They’ve just been added to the collection of historical currency held by the Bank of Canada Museum in downtown Ottawa. Some of the museum’s most significant artifact acquisitions in 2024 were recently highlighted in a curator’s blog post detailing the latest...
Ottawa artist Ciaran Head-Smith brings his Indigenous voice to Casa Loma exhibit
Ottawa-based artist Ciaran Head-Smith’s artwork is featured in Red Visions, a first-of-its-kind Indigenous art exhibition at Casa Loma, celebrating cultural heritage.
Ottawa galleries are hard at work making art accessible
Ottawa artists and organizations are bringing a fresh and accessible approach into the local art community.
City Builder: The quirky world of artist and history sleuth Andrew King
Manotick artist Andrew King has just published another book of little-known historical facts about Ottawa.
Unveiling of returned Roaring Lion portrait underlines its importance to Château Laurier, Ottawa and ‘free world’
Ottawa’s Fairmont Château Laurier threw a homecoming party Friday to celebrate the return of a famous Winston Churchill portrait by renowned photographer Yousuf Karsh that was stolen in 2022.
From Billings Estate to Château Laurier: Haunted Ottawa is ready for Halloween
Ottawa is home to several haunted attractions. Many organizations invite locals to learn a little bit about the history of these places.
City Builder: Jean-François Bélisle is at the forefront of art in Ottawa and beyond
Jean-François Bélisle is bringing new ideas to the National Gallery of Canada.
Museum of History looks at career of architect Douglas Cardinal as his building turns 35
Museum of History honours the career of architect Douglas Cardinal.
New National Gallery exhibition celebrates Indigenous beadwork
The National Gallery of Canada unveiled its newest exhibition on May 17 celebrating contemporary Indigenous beadwork.
Bytown Museum unveils new exhibition on Ottawa’s healthcare history
The Bytown Museum unveiled a new temporary exhibition celebrating Ottawa's healthcare history on May 17.
80 years ago: Canadian War Museum remembers D-Day with new exhibitions and events
The Canadian War Museum is hosting new exhibitions and events to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
Museum unveils new exhibition featuring 200 years of war art by women
New exhibition at the Canadian War Museum features some 70 works by women artists over the past two centuries.
Aviation museum unveils exhibit on Canada’s Cold War experience
A new exhibit on the Cold War has opened at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. Capital Current pays a visit.
Museum at Experimental Farm offers weekend of ‘hoppy’ Easter activities
This Easter the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum is celebrating spring and the new life that comes with the changing season.
Ottawa Gallery show explores the intersection of motherhood and artist
Ottawa-based mother-artist collective 44.4 unveiled their first exhibition Nobody Sees a Flower, exploring the complexities of motherhood and art.
Museum lecture with space experts answers Ottawa’s moon questions
It took 25 days of the 2024 calendar year for the first full moon of the cycle to appear in the sky. Coincidentally, for Ottawa residents interested in this mysterious celestial object, that evening offered the opportunity to have all their questions answered. The Ingenium Foundation hosted a lecture titled “Lunar Exploration: Past and Present” at the Canadian Space and...
Sports Hall of Fame collection finds new home at Museum of History in Gatineau
The Canadian Museum of History acquired the Order of Sports Collection from Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, consisting of 100,000 artifacts.
Canadian Museum of Nature embraces prescription program for mental health
The PaRx program is allowing doctors to prescribe patients passes to the Canadian Museum of Nature for the first time, in order to boost mental health.
City builder: Alexandra Badzak led the Ottawa Art Gallery expansion, boosting local art scene along the way
Alexandra Badzak is one of Ottawa's many "city builders" and works to preserve Ottawa's art scene at the OAG.
Living the dream: Ottawa artist Bob Waters celebrates solo exhibition decades in the making
At 68, Bob Waters has finally fulfilled a lifelong dream to feature his art in a solo exhibition.
City considers multi-museum membership program to boost attendance
With an eye on increasing attendance, the city is looking at creating a membership program that will offer access to all five locally run museums for an annual fee.
A sweet double-double: Orleans café shares niche with a gallery and both benefit
Art of Bean, a popular café in Ottawa since its opening in 2021, also shares floor-space with a local art gallery.
Piqued interest: Festival showcased city’s underground music scene
The quarterly festival Pique welcomes Spring with a lineup of diverse musical artists, film screenings and art installations.
A king of Drag: Ottawa’s Omari B. Johnson has found passion in performance
On Feb. 10, 2023, the National Gallery of Canada is hosting their second annual Queer Black Excellence Showcase in collaboration with Capital Pride to celebrate Winter Pride.
Bytown Museum to reopen in May with exhibit on historic blazes in Ottawa
Opening in May a new in-person exhibit at the Bytown Museum will examine 10 big fires that shaped the city we know today.
Archive and history museum team up to offer ‘Unexpected!’ look at Canada’s past
Library of Archives (LAC) is back with its first exhibition since the pandemic, showcasing 36 rare finds from its collection.