May 9, 2008

Construction of Winnipeg’s Canadian Museum for Human Rights could start later this year

WINNIPEG

A new report offers a blueprint for Winnipeg’s Canadian Museum for Human Rights to keep politics from interfering in its historical content and ensure it reaches its economic potential for the city.

The 77-page report, released publicly this week, contains a list of short and long-term recommendations from a nine-person advisory committee, headed by Winnipeg real estate mogul Arni Thorsteinson.

Some are having an autonomous board, an extensive and ongoing marketing campaign, a significant online presence, a strong service culture and developing a policy to respond to criticism.

Thorsteinson said the committee’s goal is for the museum to have the same economic impact in Winnipeg as the 11-year-old Guggenheim Museum — which features works of Spanish and international artists — has had on Bilbao, Spain.

He said the marketing plan will include ensuring the museum becomes a major international attraction.

“We want to make sure that the expectations of a couple of hundred thousand visitors per year will be met and exceeded,” he said.

Gerald Friesen, a history professor at the University of Manitoba, said the presence of an autonomous board will appease critics who might accuse the museum of showing favouritism to a particular group or groups.

“The museum is getting into a complicated situation. There will always be political questions around this kind of a mandate,” he said.

Construction of the $265-million museum could start before the end of the year, with a grand opening in 2010 or 2011.

More than $4 million in donations came in from four Crown corporations last week, leaving the museum less than $13 million short of its $105-million private fundraising goal.

Canadian Press

Print | Email | Comment