First Time in Canada! Body Worlds: Animal Inside Out Will Highlight the Canadian Museum of Nature's 2015 Season


OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Nov. 20, 2014) - The mind-blowing, blockbuster show, Body Worlds: Animal Inside Out, as well as the new exhibition, Arctic Voices, will be the Canadian Museum of Nature's next big offerings for 2015.

Animal Inside Out, by the successful creators of Body Worlds, débuts May 1 and will dominate the summer tourist season until September 20. This unforgettable travelling exhibition, currently in the United States, offers a unique exploration of what lies beneath the surface of many amazing animals, large and small. It's anatomy like you've never seen before!

The intricate biology of approximately 100 specimens, representing about 50 animals-from goats to giraffes, bulls to birds, and octopi to ostriches, and even humans -is revealed through a process called plastination. Invented by Body Worlds creator, anatomist Dr. Gunther von Hagens, plastination allows close up views of the animal's blood vessels, muscles, skeleton and internal organs.

Prior to the arrival of Animal Inside Out, the museum will kick off an Arctic-themed winter season with the December 5, 2014 opening of Arctic Voices. Produced in partnership with Science North, this travelling exhibition demonstrates our connections to the Arctic environment, its peoples and wildlife. Explore the surprising diversity of Arctic plant and animal life, both on land and in the ocean. Museum-goers can travel with scientists as they tag Arctic whales, follow a "garden tour" to see how plants thrive in this harsh environment and try their skills at throat-singing. Plant specimens acquired from Sir John Franklin's early Arctic expeditions, and a rare book about his journeys, will also be displayed. A selection of artifacts from the doomed crew of Franklin's final Arctic expedition will also be part of the show.

"Arctic Voices is the anchor of the Museum's Arctic season programming, which continues through March Break", says Meg Beckel, President and CEO of the Museum. "Then, with excitement, we literally shed our skin in late spring to present the extraordinary exhibition, Animal Inside Out. It's going to be an amazing year."

Arctic-themed holiday programming, as well as a new photo exhibit (now in its third year) for February's Winterlude festival round out the Arctic season.

Other exhibitions and programs will continue to enlighten and engage audiences throughout 2015. These include:

-Minerals - January to April 2015. This new national travelling exhibition examines the diversity of minerals and their uses. Following its museum début, Minerals will tour Canada as part of the museum's travelling exhibitions program, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2013.

-Passenger Pigeons : Gone Forever - until spring 2015. This exhibition marks the 100th anniversary of the extinction of this once abundant bird.

-Science in Action, weekend afternoons - Meet some of the museum's fossil and botany specialists, and observe them as they extract real dinosaur fossils, and prepare plant specimens for study.

-Nature Nocturne - Sept 2014 to May 2015. The third season continues for this extremely popular Friday night series for adults that offers different themes at each event. Nocturners enjoy dancing, DJ music, live bands, artistic interactions, food, socializing, and new discoveries as they explore the museum's many galleries.

-Themed brunches - until June 2015. Nature Brunches are offered on select Sundays throughout the year. Look forward to a unique theme each time with a special menu, then tour the museum's galleries.

Nature Scoop - a series of short videos highlight the Museum's stories and collections.

Also returning to the museum in 2015 are two exquisite exhibitions developed with community partners:

-Ikebana - April 16 to 19, 2015. Featuring the beautiful botanical creations of the Ottawa Centennial Chapter of Ikebana International. This annual show at the museum is now in its 31st year.

-Canadian Wildlife Photography of the Year - Spring 2015. Award-winning photos from Canadian Geographic's 2014 national photo contest will grace the museum's walls for the seventh edition of the exhibition.

The Canadian Museum of Nature is Canada's national museum of natural history and natural sciences. It is located at 240 McLeod Street, Ottawa. Until June 1, the museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours on Thursday until 8 p.m. (Also open Mondays during holiday periods). From June 1 to Labour Day, the museum is open seven days a week. A surcharge applies for entry to the special exhibitions, Arctic Voices and Body Worlds: Animal Inside Out. For details, including fees and hours, visit nature.ca. Follow the Museum on Twitter (@museumofnature) or become a fan on Facebook.

Contact Information:

Laura Sutin
Marketing and Media Relations
Canadian Museum of Nature
613-566-4793
(cell) 613-698-7142
lsutin@mus-nature.ca

Dan Smythe
Marketing and Media Relations
Canadian Museum of Nature
613-566-4781
(cell) 613-698-9253
dsmythe@mus-nature.ca