Autumn at the ROM: access to multi-media learning is in the air.

September signifies the start of a new season marked by the busy back-to-school time of year. It's a transformative month that always arrives with a renewed and re-energized commitment to learning and growing.

Museums play a special educational role in society--we not only collect and preserve the best of art, culture, and nature, but we also strive to describe and explain these collections to the public, and explore the range of issues that arise from their exhibition.

With most of the "hardware" complete in the Renaissance ROM project, such as buildings and galleries, we are now preparing some of the fascinating "software" that will support and complement these amazing spaces. Namely, unprecedented levels of multi-media programming designed to help the public appreciate and interpret our vast collections and our compelling research. These projects range from special exhibitions, lectures, and forums offered to our Members, Patrons, and Donors as well as the general public, to publications, events, and unique educational programs for schools.

Certainly this fall at the Museum will prove to be one of our busiest with the very special exhibit The Ten Commandments opening on October 10 for 8 days only and the second rotation of the Dead Sea Scrolls arriving on the same day. As well look for thought-provoking celebrity-themed programming that complements Vanity Fair Portraits: Photographs 1913-2008 presented by the Bay. Who could resist seeing Meryl Streep live at the ROM speaking on the subject of being a celebrity in the modern age? I know I will be there on October 7 to catch every word and I hope you will join me.

As the Renaissance ROM Campaign comes to a triumphant end, officially the most successful cultural fundraising campaign in Canadian history, the ROM Governors will now turn our energy and resources to supporting the next exciting development at the Museum: We will be working hard to improve accessibility to ROM collections, programs, and exhibits, and create digital tools to engage the world in powerful and provoking ways.

Our new goals and areas of focus will support critical projects such as school visit bursaries, free downloadable audio tours, in-gallery digital features, funding for much-needed research equipment, and vital collections care. We will take on new challenges this year and I know I can count on your continued support as we aim to enhance the whole ROM experience.

We're all in a back-to-school frame of mind. But of course it's not all work and no play--please join us at the ICC's annual fundraiser Culture Shock, presented by Alex and Simona Shnaider, on September 23 for a spectacular first look at Vanity Fair Portraits: Photographs 1913-2008, or play at this year's Fact? or Fiction? guessing-game fundraiser on October 22.

Enjoy the crisp fall days ahead and take some time to celebrate the memories of school days past by learning something new--while having fun--at the ROM.

DR. MARIE BOUNTROGIANNI 

PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

ROM GOVERNORS