What was it about?

This event was the first in a new series called “aMUSE: Exhibits Unleashed,” one night only, pop-up museum experiences presented by the St. Catharines Museum & Welland Canals Centre. The goal of aMUSE is to get the Museum collection out into the community, while at the same time, inspiring stories and fuelling conversation. By using non-traditional spaces for museum events, we’re hoping to reach new audiences, make our collection more accessible and let people know we’re out there!

We chose bicycles as the theme for our first event – St. Catharines has a rich bicycling history and a strong cycling culture today. Bicycles from the collection, including a circa-1899 ladies bicycle manufactured in St. Catharines, were on display for the evening, along with cycling-related artifacts and a slideshow of photos from the archives. People were invited to share their favourite bicycle memories at the event and we received stories of first bicycles, learning to ride, mishaps, injuries and adventures.

How did it go?

Great! Local musicians added to the great vibe at Mahtay Cafe (and performed songs about bicycles and our city). More than 120 people came by the event, some stayed for 20 or 30 minutes, while others stayed for the whole evening, checking out Museum artifacts, sharing their own bike experiences and even trying out a selection of bike bells. 54 people shared their bicycle stories and memories with us - some wrote it down, while others drew a picture. We had great feedback about the event and are planning another pop-up museum for the end of the summer!

Links

https://www.facebook.com/events/569702793062824/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-QHbSWdHcw