The Rooms
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| Established | 2005 |
|---|---|
| Location | St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. |
| Type | Art Gallery, the Provincial Archives and the Provincial Museum. |
| Website | |
| Official name | Fort Townshend National Historic Site of Canada |
| Designated | 1951 |
The Rooms is a cultural facility in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The facility opened in 2005 and houses the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Provincial Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador.[1]
The facility was constructed on a hill overlooking the port city, at a historic location once occupied by Fort Townshend. The building can be seen from almost any point in St. John's, and the facility has since its construction competed with its neighbour, Basilica of St. John the Baptist, for the dominance of the St. John's skyline.
Origins of the name
The building's name, as well as its architecture, is a reference to the simple gable-roofed sheds (called "fishing rooms") that were once so common at the waterline in Newfoundland fishing villages.
History
Fort Townshend
During the planning and construction of the building much opposition was raised by archaeologists and historians because of its location. Previously on the same strategic spot of land was located Fort Townshend, an 18th-century military fort, that was eventually buried under ground. The great star-shaped citadel, one of the largest British fortifications in North America at the time, was built to defend Britain's fishing interests. With the withdrawal of the imperial garrison in 1870, the site became the home of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and, later, the St. John's Fire Department.
The site was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1951.[2]
On-site interpretation allows visitors to explore this historic past. Careful research and documentation before construction ensured that future study of the site is possible.[3]
Outdoor Exhibit
In March 2013, The Rooms Corporation announced [4] it would developing an outdoor space to improve access and safety, and to commemorate the history of Fort Townshend.[5] The outline of the Fort is to be marked with granite pavers along a lit pathway, as an extension of the Grand Concourse. Plans to excavate archaeological remains of Fort Townshend, which are largely located under the building, were not defined in the scope of the project.[5] The outdoor space will be completed by the Grand Concourse Authority [6] in two phases between 2013 and 2014.
Cultural facilities
The facility was officially opened on June 29, 2005. The building offers a panoramic view of downtown St. John's and its architecture, St. John's Harbour, The Narrows and Signal Hill.
Rooms Provincial Art Gallery
The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery is the premiere public gallery in the province dedicated to developing and exhibiting contemporary art. Since opening in 2005, the gallery has produced an average of 15 exhibitions annually; ranging from new-media installations to Renaissance printmaking. The gallery presents new work from across Canada and the world, with a special (though not exclusive) focus on artists working in Newfoundland and Labrador. Bruce Johnson led exhibitions as the province's first Curator of Contemporary Art until 2013.
The gallery was previously known as the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador (AGNL), and was located at the St. John's Arts and Culture Centre.
Provincial Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Provincial Museum focuses on the natural and cultural history of Newfoundland and Labrador. Exhibits include dioramas of the animal and plant life of the tundra and bog, mounted bird displays, and the aboriginal people who lived in the area. Other displays include the city's British military history, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, and the culture and contributions of the area's Irish fishermen. Changing exhibits focus on other aspects of the province's history, natural history and culture.
The original Newfoundland Museum was located in a large Classical Revival brick and sandstone building at 285 Duckworth Street in Downtown St. John's.
Location
The address of The Rooms is 9 Bonaventure Avenue, St. John's NL.
External links
Affiliations
The Museum is affiliated with: CMA, CHIN, and Virtual Museum of Canada.
References
- ↑ "Provincial Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2013-09-24.
- ↑ "Fort Townshend National Historic Site of Canada". www.historicplaces.ca. 07-08-2012. Retrieved 2013-09-24. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ "The Rooms Welcomes You". www.therooms.ca. Retrieved 2013-09-23.
- ↑ The Rooms Corporation - Public Advisory: Public Information Session on Development of The Rooms Grounds
- 1 2 The Rooms
- ↑ Grand Concourse Authority - Planned & Future Projects
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Rooms. |
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Coordinates: 47°33′58.45″N 52°42′42.62″W / 47.5662361°N 52.7118389°W