The Royal B.C. Museum is asking British Columbians for stories, photos and objects that will help describe their time living through the greatest global virus outbreak in their lifetime, with the launch of the COVID-19 Collecting For Our Time project.
The museum and archives are looking for information, perspectives, photos and objects that will help it tell the story of this moment for future generations.
“We want to hear people’s ideas or thoughts as to what we should collect, to be guided by a partnership with the community,” said Joanne Orr, deputy CEO of the Royal B.C. Museum.
“We anticipate to collect items such as photographs, social-distancing signs — or even toilet rolls as a legacy of this historical moment. But we want to move forward cautiously, as this has been intense and can still be traumatic for some.”
By providing their insights, B.C. citizens will have the opportunity to describe how they feel history should be written, said Jack Lohman, CEO of the Royal B.C. Museum.
The project reflects the evolving nature of museums from repositories of history to spaces for reflection — and commentary — about current social and environmental changes.
Along with archiving stories of experiences during the pandemic, the museum will initiate a long-term collecting project capturing images and objects related to the pandemic.
The museum is inviting the public to write to tell them what they think should be captured for the future.
For more information about the COVID-19 Collecting For Our Time project, go to royalbcmusem.bc.ca/tell-us-your-covid-19 story.
