A Toronto newspaper is reporting that Chinese President Hu Jintao may kick-off the Terracotta Warriors exhibit, at the Royal Ontario Museum, on June 26.
It will be the largest Terracotta Warriors show ever displayed in North America featuring 250 artefacts in total including 16 human terracotta figures. It’s opening day coincides with the start of the G20 summit in Toronto, which the president will be attending.
The Toronto Starreports that the president and his wife Liu Yongqing have been formally invited by the museum. Were hoping, but we know there are lots of things on their agenda, exhibit curator Dr. Chen Shen, told the newspaper.
In the same article museum officials defended their decision to open the exhibit while the summit is running. Other venues in Toronto have decided to shut down. These include the Art Gallery of Ontario, the CN Tower and the University of Torontos St. George campus (which practically surrounds the museum).
There is no reason in the world to close. Its perfectly safe up here for our public and our staff, the Toronto Star quotes Dr. Dan Rahimi as saying. He is the vice-president of gallery development. The city is going to be a ghost town, so let people come to the ROM.
When contacted by Heritage Key several weeks ago the museum declined to comment on what special security precautions they will be taking.