Type: Museum
This museum explores textile work from antiquity to the present through exhibitions, collections, education programs, research and documentation, and aims to promote an understanding of human identity through textiles.
Programming:
Conservation / Preservation:
Artefacts
12,000 artefacts documenting 2,000 years of textile history from all over the world, including fabrics, ceremonial cloths, garments, carpets, and quilts.
Public Programming:
Exhibits
- Themed exhibits based on the Museum’s permanent collection of historical garments, rugs, and other textiles, representing a variety of world cultures.
- Travelling exhibits based on the permanent collection created in partnership with other cultural institutions.
- Exhibits of the works of Canadian and international textile artists that illuminate contemporary life.
Online Resources
- Three online exhibits of digital artwork, Canadian cultural diversity, and Mexican, Central and South American cultural history, as seen through cloth.
- Online image gallery of the permanent collection, searchable by keyword, artefact type, geographical region, nationality, material, and technique.
Library
H.N. Pullar Library offers an extensive collection of publications (books, journals, DVDs, videos) and subject files dealing with non- industrial textiles from around the world.
education
This museum offers educational programming for students of all levels, including undergraduate students. Fibrespace is an interactive exhibit where school classes (as well as adults) can learn about textiles while working with fabrics. Social Fabric, an online exhibit, allowed students to generate content while engaging in research of textiles.
Volunteer/Internship/Placement Opportunities:
This museum depends heavily upon the work of its volunteers. Depending on their interests and expertise, volunteers may be responsible for clerical and administrative duties, leading museum tours as docents, engaging in educational programming with schools and educators, or working with museum staff to preserve and exhibit items from the museum’s collection. The need for volunteers is often contingent on the number of projects in preparation.
This museum regularly accepts interns from museum studies and design and fashion programs as well as in conjunction with government student work programs.
Address & Contact Information:
55 Centre Avenue
Toronto, ON
M5G 2H5
Phone: 416-599-5321
Email: schoolvisits@textilemuseum.ca
Website: http://www.textilemuseum.ca/
Hours of Operation:
Monday – Tuesday, Thursday – Sunday, 11:00am – 5:00pm; Wednesday, 11:00am – 8:00pm.
Key Words: design, culture