Virtual Museum Of The Spanish Civil War Launches At Trent University

A first-of-its-kind virtual museum, dedicated to the exploration and understanding of the Spanish Civil War is now open to online visitors after its launch event at Trent University on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of Trent University.

Developed and co-directed by Trent University history professor Dr. Antonio Cazorla-Sanchez, the project brings together scholars and experts from Trent, York University, the SSHRC and the University of Warwick, as well as the Embassy of Spain in Canada and Spain's Ministry of Culture and Sport. 

This virtual museum is the first dedicated museum that gives a global explanation of the conflict from a variety of interdisciplinary perspectives including history, archaeology, digital humanities, literary and cultural studies.

The project has received international support from institutional partners as well as the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada’s Connections Grant which supported the museum by providing $30,000 in funding.

“In many ways, the past is a foreign country. Through the visual elements of this museum, we are witnessing what people experienced in the moment,” said Prof. Cazorla-Sanchez. “A way for visitors to immerse themselves in the mentalities of the people who experienced those events. The big issues that were relevant in the Spanish Civil War [social justice, democracy, women’s rights, rights of minorities] remain relevant today.” 

Trent president and vice-chancellor Dr. Leo Goarke said that the museum is a reflection of Trent’s commitment to interdisciplinary, international collaboration and the digital humanities.

“The impressive result of the efforts of Professor Cazorla-Sanchez and his fellow researchers is an online tool which can mobilize knowledge in a way that makes it accessible from around the world,” he said.

Those interested can explore the Virtual Museum for the Spanish Civil War at www.vscw.ca.

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Canadian Canoe Museum Receiving $1.4 Million Toward Construction Of New Museum Facility On Trent Severn Waterway

The Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of Status of Women and Member of Parliament (Peterborough–Kawartha), on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, announced on Friday (February 24th) that the Canadian Canoe Museum is receiving $1,410,672 to fund architectural and engineering plans required for the construction of a new museum facility in Peterborough.

The Honourable Maryam Monsef making funding announcement

“The Government of Canada is committed to investing in Canada’s cultural infrastructure," says the Honourable Maryam Monsef. "Revitalized cultural facilities, like the one that will house the Canadian Canoe Museum, allow Canadians to share and enjoy the inspiring influences of arts and heritage.”

“The Canadian Canoe Museum community is incredibly grateful for this federal funding," adds Bill Morris, Chair of Board of Directors at the Museum. "It will allow us to proceed in earnest with the pre-construction phase of a facility. The new museum, once complete, will care for its world-class collection the way it deserves to be cared for and preserve it, protect it and showcase it for generations to come.”

Photo from funding announcement courtesy Canoe Museum

The funding announced will support the preparation of pre-construction documents, including architectural and engineering plans. The new museum facility will be built on a Parks Canada site adjacent to the Peterborough Lift Lock National Historic Site on the Trent-Severn Waterway.

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