Exhibit 'A Seat at the Table' showcases Chinese Canadian history of the museum

#Vancouver; #B.C., #ChineseCanadianMuseum; #ASeatAtTheTable

Vancouver (B.C.), Chinese Canadian Museum’s temporary exhibit, 'A Seat at the Table' in Vancouver Chinatown is accessible to visitors for free starting Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, media reports said.

Chinese Canadian Museum. Image credit: website

Located at the Hon Hsing Athletic Club, 27 East Pender St., the exhibit  'A Seat at the Table' is open Friday until Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will run through 2021.
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“People told us they wanted the Chinese Canadian Museum to showcase Chinese Canadian history, past and present, in the places where it happened,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture in a news release. “This exhibit embodies that vision by telling the stories of the people who helped build British Columbia and offers a way for British Columbians to add their stories.”

The temporary exhibit explores the history of Chinese immigration and communities through individual narratives and opportunities to promote story sharing and features interactive story panels, videos and audio to provide snapshots from Chinese Canadians’ lives.

The exhibit also showcases how Chinese migrants and their descendants have found ways to earn a living, challenge systemic racism, connect with others, survive and thrive through hope and resilience.

“The knowledge sharing that has taken place between individuals, community groups, academics and museum professionals for the production of A Seat at the Table project is exceptional and will resonate with diverse audiences who will be able to see themselves in the stories," said Viviane Gosselin, curator, Museum of Vancouver in the news release.

Grace Wong, chair, Chinese Canadian Museum said in the news release that the exhibit shows how the Museum will share the historical contributions of Chinese Canadians and their continued role in the fabric of British Columbia and Canada. 

With so much history and culture, Vancouver offers affordable opportunities for people to learn more about the lives and experiences of the Chinese Canadians who shaped our city, said Kennedy Stewart, mayor, City of Vancouver in the news release.

The exhibition facilitates visitors to add their personal story to the collection on camera, through in-person interviews, in writing or by placing a marker on a map.

These stories will become part of the Chinese Canadian Museum’s collection and as the exhibition travels throughout the province, it will continue to gather stories from each location throughout the province.

The project, 'A Seat at the Table' from the Chinese Canadian Museum Society of BC, in collaboration with the Museum of Vancouver and the University of British Columbia, is made possible through the B.C. government’s $1-million grant to the City of Vancouver to support further planning for the Chinese Canadian Museum.

A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Province and the City of Vancouver to establish the museum and to pursue United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Site Designation for Vancouver Chinatown.

The Museum of Vancouver will launch, in October 2020, a larger related exhibit at its own location.
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The safety measures put in place at the exhibit by the Chinese Canadian Museum Society of BC to protect people’s health during the COVID-19 pandemic include provision of hand sanitizers, masks to be worn by staff and patrons, additional signage within the museum to remind visitors to keep a two-metre distance from each other, and maximum attendance of 14 people at a time.