Sikh Gallery at Canada’s Royal Ontario Museum

On 4 May, Sikh cultural leaders and community members gathered at Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) to connect, celebrate, and recognize the tremendous fundraising efforts in support of the newly established Global Sikh Art & Culture Gallery and Program (GSACGP). This project is the first announced element of a planned refurbishment and expansion of ROM’s renowned suite of South Asian galleries and part of the Museum’s transformative OpenROM project. For the GSACGP, the community has now raised $16.6M. Heritage Canada will deliver an additional $6M for the project as recently announced in the 2024 Federal Budget and subject to passing of the budget. The GSACGP will enable ROM to expand the Museum’s suite of galleries devoted to South Asia to include a dedicated Gallery of Sikh Art & Culture, establish funds to acquire Sikh historic objects and contemporary art, and introduce a new endowed curatorial position dedicated to Sikh art and culture. In addition, public programs will highlight global Sikh art and culture, engaging Museum visitors through a regular series of talks, performances, and gallery tours. The planned 2,300 sq.ft. Sikh Art & Culture Gallery is a multi-faceted initiative that includes a transformation of the Museum’s main floor, a redesigned Bloor Street entrance, and enhanced public and gallery spaces. OpenROM construction is currently underway and expected to be complete in late 2027. In 2000, ROM presented the landmark exhibition, Arts of the Sikh Kingdom, from the UK’s Victoria and Albert Museum, augmented with pieces drawn from the private collections of Sikh community members living in Canada.