Bata Shoe Museum Annual Review 2014

2014
ANNUAL
REVIEW
2014
ANNUAL
REVIEW
#AboutTheMuseum
IN 1979, THE BATA SHOE MUSEUM
FOUNDATION/FONDATION MUSÉE DE
LA CHAUSSURE BATA WAS CREATED
TO PROFESSIONALLY MANAGE THE
EVER-INCREASING COLLECTION
AND TO SPONSOR AND PUBLISH
RESEARCH ON THE ROLE FOOTWEAR
HAS PLAYED IN HUMAN HISTORY.
When Founding Chairman Sonja Bata first began
collecting footwear in the 1940s, she never expected
that her unending quest for exceptional artefacts
would result in an unparalleled collection and an
internationally acclaimed museum.
Boasting a world-class collection of more than
13,000 artefacts spanning 4,500 years of history,
the Museum actively pursues its mandate to research,
exhibit, and publish information about the cultural,
historical and sociological value of footwear.
In 1995, the Bata Shoe Museum opened its doors to
the public in its own award-winning building. Inspired
by the idea of a shoebox, renowned Canadian
architect Raymond Moriyama created this five-storey
structure that combines state-of-the-art artefact
storage and exhibit space with dynamic and inviting
plays of light and texture.
Particular strengths of the Museum’s collection
include important holdings in Circumpolar, 18 th
century European, Indigenous North American, and
Asian footwear.
Particularly impressive is the “floating” staircase,
which is the architectural centrepiece of the Museum,
and a dramatic wall of prismatic glass that ensures
that the Museum’s architecture is as unforgettable as
the collection it houses.
Home to the world’s largest and most comprehensive
collection of shoes and footwear-related objects,
the Bata Shoe Museum is committed to being an
internationally recognized centre for footwear
research that maintains and displays the Museum’s
collection, sponsors field research, publishes findings
and promotes education.
For almost two decades, the Museum has strived to
showcase the incredible diversity of what people
choose to wear on their feet, revealing the most
interesting aspects of culture, history and society.
Through its extraordinary exhibitions, the Bata Shoe
Museum has shared these compelling stories by using
footwear as the point of entry into the cultures of the
world.
The permanent collection contains examples from
virtually every culture in the world, including a rare
and well-preserved velvet-covered platform mule
from 16th century Venice, French chestnut crushing
boots, embroidered Chinese silk shoes, bear fur shoes
from Japanese samurai and footwear made from
human hair.
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One of the most important aspects of the Bata
Shoe Museum’s holdings is an extensive collection
of Native American and Circumpolar footwear. This
collection and the field trips sponsored to study
indigenous shoemaking have greatly contributed to
the scholarship of footwear history.
Among the collection’s most popular feature is an
extensive assortment of celebrity footwear, including
Queen Victoria’s ballroom slippers, Robert Redford’s
cowboy boots, Elton John’s monogrammed silver
platform boots, Terry Fox’s running shoe, Elvis
Presley’s blue patent loafers, Karen Kain’s ballet shoes
and John Lennon’s Beatle boot.
The Museum’s archaeological collection includes
footwear from some of the earliest civilizations
on earth: ancient Egyptian sarcophagi with painted
sandal designs, leg-shaped perfume vials made by
an ancient Greek potter, and Roman bronze lamps
representing sandal-clad feet.
In addition to the popular semi-permanent exhibition
All About Shoes, the Museum has three galleries for
changing exhibitions, ensuring that each visit offers
a new experience.
#AboutTheMuseum
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FROM THE
DIRECTOR
#FromTheDirector
T H A N K S TO O U R V I S I O N A R Y
FOUNDER, OUR COMMITTED
BOARD, OUR GREAT STAFF AND
OUR WONDERFUL SMALL ARMY OF
VOLUNTEERS WE CAN PROUDLY
LOOK BACK AT A SUCCESSFUL 2014
AND LOOK FORWARD TO A FUTURE
FULL OF EXCITING CHALLENGES AND
ACHIEVEMENTS.
The Bata Shoe Museum is a dynamic specialized
Museum operating in the heart one of the most
multicultural cities in the world. As one of the most
visited museums in Toronto, the Bata Shoe Museum
is mindful of the need to constantly adapt to the
ever changing fabric of its local and international
communities. Our efforts combine physical visitation
— both in Toronto and around the world through our
travelling exhibitions and international loans program
— with online communication. Thanks to our website
and to our strong presence on all social media
platforms, our overall outreach exceeds 500,000
people every year.
Because of our superb collection, the Museum is able
to engage different segments of society with thoughtinspiring exhibitions and programs. Our work is
based on thorough scholarly research on innovative
subjects rarely explored by mainstream academia.
All of our exhibitions are conceived and developed by
the Museum, often treading into unknown territories.
Storytelling was the focus of the Museum’s activities
in 2014. From interactive theatre experiences in the
galleries to Dickensian tales told through artefacts,
we engaged our patrons in one of the oldest and
finest of museum traditions.
In June the Museum unveiled a major exhibition
Fashion Victims: The Pleasures and Perils of Dress in
the 19th Century. This is the result of a joint multiyear
research project headed by our Senior Curator
Elizabeth Semmelhack and Ryerson Professor Alison
Matthews David who looked at early industrialization
dyes and chemical treatments in the fashion industry.
The work resulted in a comprehensive display of
artefacts from our very own collection showcasing
disquieting stories about the effects of chemicals
and fashion-driven accessories on the makers and
wearers. This groundbreaking exhibition allows the
Museum to showcase its extraordinary 19 th century
collection of footwear, arguably the best selection of
beautifully preserved artefacts of this kind worldwide.
We are particularly thankful for the financial support
we have received throughout the year from the
various levels of government, private sponsors,
corporate foundations and our friends. Some of
our programs would not be possible without their
generous contributions.
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EXHIBITIONS
#Exhibitions
THE MISSION OF THE BATA SHOE
MUSEUM IS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
OF THE ROLE OF FOOTWEAR IN
THE SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE
OF MANKIND. IT HAS ACHIEVED THIS
PURPOSE BY ESTABLISHING AND
OPERATING A PUBLIC INSTITUTION
WHICH ACQUIRES, CONSERVES,
R E S E A RC H E S , CO M M U N I C AT E S
AND EXHIBITS MATERIAL EVIDENCE
REL ATED TO THE HISTORY OF
FOOTWEAR AND SHOEMAKING FOR
THE PURPOSES OF STUDY, EDUCATION
AND ENJOYMENT.
Out of the Box: The Rise of Sneaker Culture
Closed June 2014
Designed by famed industrial designer Karim Rashid,
this ground breaking and first North American
exhibition to showcase the history of sneaker culture
features over 120 sneakers representing the past 150
years and highlights iconic sneakers from the 20th and
21st century.
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presenting an elegant exterior was not without its
perils. The discomfort of constricting corsets and
impossibly narrow footwear matched by the dangers
of wearing articles dyed with poison-laced colours
and made of highly flammable materials. From the
challenges faced by those who produced fashionable
dress to the risks taken by those who wore it, this
exhibition provides thought-provoking insights into
what it means to be a fashion victim.
Fa s h io n Vic t i m s : Th e Pl ea s u res a n d Pe ril s
of Dress in the 19th Century (see images above)
Opened June 2014
This exhibition transports visitors back to the 19 th
century where fashion-forward women graced
the boulevards and ballrooms with their colourful
presence. Their tailored male companions cut
equally refined figures in their black coats, spotless
white linens, lustrous top hats and shiny boots. Yet
#Exhibitions
Collected in the Field: Shoemaking Traditions from
Around the World (see image below)
All About Shoes: Footwear Through the Ages
Semi-Permanent
Commissioned by the Bata Shoe Museum, researchers
have traveled from Siberia to India documenting
traditional shoemaking practices. Each of these field
trips has brought a wealth of in-depth information and
artefacts into the Museum, and along with Founding
Chairman Sonja Bata’s own journey, has resulted in
this extraordinary exhibition which features personal
stories from around the world.
The Museum’s flagship exhibition, All About Shoes,
is a voyage through 4,500 years of footwear: its
evolution, uses over time, methods and materials
of manufacture, and its place in our lives and
imaginations. This exhibition also features a look at
the development of fashion footwear by the decade,
as well, Star Turns, a celebrity shoe area highlighting
some of the world most celebrated people.
Beauty, Identity, Pride: Native North American
Footwear (see image left)
Star Turns: Footprints on the World Stage
(see image above)
With 90 artefacts created by Indigenous peoples
from diverse regions of North America, this exhibition
features shoes, boots and moccasins showcasing
exquisite craftsmanship, regional patterns, and
beautiful decoration, as well as rarely seen artefacts
chosen entirely from the Bata Shoe Museum’s
comprehensive collection of Native footwear.
As a complement to the Museum’s flagship exhibition,
this exhibition introduces visitors to an impressive
array of footwear worn in moments of triumph by
performers, athletes, artists and politicians, including
icons like Terry Fox, The Dalai Lama, Marilyn Monroe
and Shaquille O’Neal.
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CONSERVATION
#Conservation
IT IS THE PRACTICE OF THE BATA
SHOE MUSEUM TO CONSERVE RATHER
THAN RESTORE. WORN FOOTWEAR
HAS A MORE SIGNIFICANT CULTURAL
MEANING THAN UNUSED PRISTINE
SHOES. SIGNS OF WEAR SUCH AS
STRETCHED LEATHER, DIRT ON SOLES,
AND MODIFICATIONS ARE EVIDENCE
THAT THESE ARE REAL SHOES WORN
BY REAL PEOPLE.
2014 was a busy year for the Museum’s Conservation
Department. In addition to giving a well attended
Walk & Talk Plastics Tour with Samantha Conover
through the Out of the Box: Rise of Sneaker Culture
exhibition, Conservator Ada Hopkins offered a behind
the scenes tour to the interpreters from Black Creek
Pioneer Village, as well as to conservation students
from Queen’s University and wrote an essay for an
upcoming sneaker publication soon to be published
by Rizzoli.
The Conservator also attended a 2 day workshop
hosted by the textile conservator at the Royal Ontario
Museum to learn the latest techniques and materials
for making mannequins and was the artifact handler
for the XRF testing at Ryerson University to determine
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The Conservator also travelled to the Kunstahl
Museum in Rotterdam, Netherlands and the Brooklyn
Museum in NYC to install Museum artefacts on loan to
both institutions.
condition reports for outgoing loans to Kunstahl (Rotterdam),
Textile Museum of Canada (Toronto); Brooklyn Museum (NYC)
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4
chemical content of dyes used in shoes selected for
the Fashion Victims exhibition. She also attended a
behind the scenes tour of the textile & shoe storage
areas at Blythe House, the offsite facility for the
Victoria & Albert Museum, discussing treatment,
display & storage techniques for shoes. The
Conservator took the opportunity to attend a lecture
on the archeological footwear found at Vindolanda.
Back in Toronto, the Conservator attended a meeting
of local conservators to exchange ideas on storage
& display techniques & sources for unusual materials.
treatment of a monkey cobbler automaton
1
pair of 1920s deep sea diving boots
mannequins for the Fashion Victims exhibit were created
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RESEARCH
#Research
IN 2014, SENIOR CURATOR ELIZABETH
S E M M E L H AC K CO -AU T H O R E D
“FASHION VICTIMS: THE PLEASURES
AND PERILS OF DRESS IN THE 19TH
CENTURY”, A STUNNING CATALOGUE
WHICH ACCOMPANIED THE BSM
EXHIBITION OF THE SAME NAME.
2014 was another year for thought-provoking
research at the Bata Shoe Museum. In January, Senior
Curator Elizabeth Semmelhack travelled to the Los
Angeles County Museum (LACMA) to research their
footwear holdings and give a lecture on the history of
high heels. While in California, she also lectured on
the history of sneakers at Whittier College. Research
continued on the history of sneakers for the book
Out of the Box: The Rise of Sneaker Culture. Written
in the fall of 2014, the book will be published by
Rizzoli in 2015 to accompany the 2015/2016 travelling
exhibition of the same name. Additional research also
commenced this year for the upcoming exhibition
Standing Tall: The Curious History of Men in Heels.
In February, Semmelhack wrote “The Allure of Power
for Shoes: Pleasure and Pain” published by the
Victoria and Albert Museum. In March, she presented
the paper “Well Heeled: How New World Exploration,
the Textile Trade and the Rise of Persia Put European
Men in Heels” at the Renaissance Society of America
on her research concerning the introduction of heels
into Western fashion. She published her research on
chopines in the article “Above the Rest: Chopines
as Trans-Mediterranean Fashion” in Special Issue of
Journal of Spanish Cultural Studies: Touching the
Ground: Platform Shoes in the Early Modern Hispanic
World and in the chapter, “Reveal or Conceal:
Chopines and the Display of Material Wealth in Early
Modern Valencia and Venice” in The Matter of Art:
Materials, Technologies, Meanings, c. 1250-1650, ed.
Christine Anderson, Anne Dunlop, and Pamela Smith.
Manchester: Manchester University Press (2014).
In May, the Bata Shoe Museum was presented with
the Canadian Museum Association (CMA) Award of
Outstanding Achievement in Publications for Roger
Vivier: Process to Perfection.
T h a t s a m e m o n t h , S e m m e l h a c k p r e s e n te d
“Fashioning Gender: High Heels and the Construction
of Femininity” a lecture and workshop at the Bata
Shoe Museum for Berkshire Women’s Conference.
In June, she coauthored the catalogue Fashion
Victims: The Pleasures and Perils of Dress in the
19th Century with Dr. Alison Matthews David for the
exhibition of the same name here at the Bata Shoe
Museum.
In September, Semmelhack presented her research on
heels as the opening program for the exhibition Killer
Heels for the Brooklyn Museum and in November, she
presented the paper “Accessories of War: Gender
Politics and Platforms during World War II” for Schuhe:
Designprodukt, Alltagsding, Forschungsgegenstand
Conference, Zürcher Hochschule der Künste.
Travelling also included a visit to the Museum of
Applied Arts in Budapest, Hungary for a behind the
scenes tour of their shoe collection.
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NEW
ACQUISITIONS
#NewAcquisitions
FOUR MAJOR OUTGOING LOANS SAW
NUMEROUS MUSEUM ARTEFACTS
TRAVELLING IN 2014. PIECES WERE
ON VIEW IN SEVERAL OUTSTANDING
EXHIBITIONS, INCLUDING “KILLER
HEELS” AT THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM
(NYC), “S.H.O.E.S.” AT THE KUNSTHAL
IN ROTTERDAM AND IN EXHIBITIONS
AT TH E ZLIN M USEU M (CZECH
REPUBLIC) AND THE TEXTILE MUSEUM
OF CANADA (TORONTO).
Loans that came into the Museum were showcased in
Out of the Box: The Rise of Sneaker Culture exhibition,
as well as in Fashion Victims: The Pleasures and Perils
of Dress in the 19th Century.
The Collections Management Department had 2
Young Canada Works students, as well as 2 interns
who continued to work on the Museum’s impressive
photography project. Approximately 85% of the
collection has now been photographed.
In September the Collection Manager Suzanne
Petersen McLean presented a paper, “Documentation
Photography: An Integrated Process”, to the
Documentation Committee of the International
Council of Museums (ICOM) in Dresden, which was
well regarded by delegates at the meeting.
The Museum acquired several new and exciting
artefacts into the permanent collection in 2014.
Highlights include a pair of Sioux leggings covered in
white, blue, green and red glass beads in a geometric
design (shown here) as well as beautifully crafted
Cheyenne moccasins from 1860, a pair of Huarache
“10 Vueltas”, named because of the 10 revolutions that
it takes to weave the upper around the last, Canadian
figure skating star Petra Burka’s custom made skates,
a leather drinking vessel and a pair of Manolo Blahnik
“Locka” evening shoes gifted by him personally to the
Museum.
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New Acquisitions in 2014
Bata, Sonja
-Gym shoes worn by Thomas J Bata
-The ONE shoe in honour of Thomas J Bata and
marking the 100th Anniversary of his birth
-Group of objects belonging to Tomas Bata Senior,
which he had in the plane when he crashed in 1932
-Pair of Coach Wooden high tops in original box
-Pair of Astra Burka’s own figure skates
-Pair of Dutch strap-on blades
Carroll, Diahann
-Four pair of shoes worn for her performances
Cermak, Dr. Roman, University of Tomas Bata
-Replica of the Fort Rock Oregon Sandal,
8500 BCE – 7200 BCE
Blahnik, Manolo
-“Locka” evening shoes (see image above)
Burka, Astra
-Pair of Petra Burka’s figure skates
(see image at right)
#NewAcquisitions
Ginsburg, Cora LLC
-Pair of women’s plaid boots circa 1855-1865
Kamer, Martin
-Pair of women’s Italian high heels circa 1690–1700
-Pair of men’s oxford ‘coat hanger’ shoes circa 1880
1885
Kittner, Marcus
-Huarache “10 Vueltas”
Müeller, Dr. Dietmar
-Pair of Lakota (Sioux) Leggings circa 1880
(see image left)
-Pair of Cheyenne moccasins circa 1860
-Pair of Blackfoot leggings circa 1850 – 1860
-Lakota (Sioux) toy cradle circa 1870 – 1880
-Apache moccasins circa 1870
Machtinger, Edward
-Bata catalogue from 1940
-Gestetner artwork, original Bata drawings 1940
And also:
Nutt, Phillip
-Series of catalogues and swatch sets
from leather suppliers
-JOX sneaker
Paciulan, Bob
-Archive of Goodyear mould drawings for
the manufacture of rubber heel top-pieces,
circa 1916-1999
-Ruby Lane Antiques
-Leather drinking vessel (see top right image)
Sandler, Adam
-Pair of his own Nike sneakers
Trotta, Ted
-Pair of Miami moccasins
119
Objects Catalogued (some objects catalogued were accessioned in 2013)
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92
-Pair of Nike Air Zoom Flight 95 hi-tops
-2 Pair Vans sneakers
-2 Pair Puma sneakers designed by Sophia Chang
-Pair of Brinco Crosstrainers, 2005
-Wood-soled women’s lace-up shoes circa
1939-1945
-‘White Buck’ loafers in original box circa 1950s
-Pair of Ewing Originals, 33HI sneakers
-Pair of Karim Rashid for Sully Wong sneakers
-A medieval upper
-Custom made figure skates, dress and pin
-Pair of police boots
-Two pair rubber Korean traditional style shoes
-Pair of high-heeled sandals with artist Lea Stein
owls on vamp
-Bata poster by H. Leupin circa 1940s
-Pair of Menkes flamenco dance shoes
-Red suede women’s Andrea Pfister shoes in
original box
Artefacts Travelling to Other Institutions
Objects Accessioned
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Incoming Loans
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EDUCATION
#Education
THANKS TO THE GENEROUS SUPPORT
FROM BMO FINANCIAL GROUP AND
THE WILLIAMS WILSON SHERPORT
FOUNDATION, FREE CURRICULUMBASED FIELD TRIPS WERE OFFERED
TO 1067 STUDENTS THROUGH STEP
AHEAD, THE MUSEUM’S EDUCATION
PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS IN ATRISK COMMUNITIES. PARTICIPANTS
TOURED THE EXHIBITIONS, HAD A
HANDS-ON SESSION AND PAINTED A
CLOG TO TAKE HOME.
In 2014, the Education Department welcomed 320
groups for guided and unguided tours. Nearly 10,000
children enjoyed class visits to the museum and 1,500
adults attended in organized groups.
New curriculum-related programs were developed
for the exhibition Collected in the Field, including the
use of hands-on materials in the gallery. Staff also
worked to develop curriculum-related programs for
the Fashion Victims exhibition for secondary students
in a variety of disciplines such as history, fashion
and visual arts. In 2014, the Bata Shoe Museum and
Toronto Foundation for Student Success(TFSS), the
registered independent charitable foundation of the
Toronto District School Board, launched Step Ahead
After School, a new partnership which expands the
Museum’s existing Step Ahead program to partner
with the TFSS’s unique initiative beyond 3:30. The
beyond 3:30 program provides free programming
focused on healthy living and learning opportunities
in the arts for middle school students between the
hours of 3:30 and 6:00 p.m. Launched in October,
480 beyond 3:30 students in grades 6-8 from 16 atrisk community schools will experience Step Ahead
After School over the school year.
March Break is always a highlight and this year the
program attracted 2,975 visitors. The theme was
‘Sneaking Around: Be a Spy at the Bata Shoe Museum’.
Children received a top secret envelope containing
their ID badge, cover identity and mission (to find
the missing sneaker). They visited “Spy School” to
get some necessary skills, and as they went through
the various activities, they received a clue which
when decoded led them to the missing sneaker. The
successful spy theme continued into Summer Fun
with nearly 600 children attending this program from
daycares and day camps in July and August.
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OUR
VISITORS
#OurVisitors
WHO IS VISITING US
ONTARIO
(EXCLUDING GTA)
REST OF CANADA
INTERNATIONAL
8%
USA
13%
18%
37%
320
GTA
24%
1,600 WOODEN CLOGS
GROUPS
for guided and unguided tours
10,000
CHILDREN
enjoyed class
visits to the museum
1500
ADULTS
attended
in organized groups
WERE PAINTED BY STUDENTS
80,378 / VISITORS IN 2014
4,020 VISITORS ATTENDED THE MUSEUM DURING THE
ALL NIGHT SCOTIABANK NUIT BLANCHE CELEBRATION
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ENGAGING
THE
COMMUNITY
#EngagingTheCommunity
IN 2014, THE BATA SHOE MUSEUM
CONTINUED TO OFFER VISITORS AND
MEMBERS AN EXCITING ROSTER OF
EDUCATIONAL AND ENTERTAINING
PROGR AMMING , INCLU DING
19THCENTURY WORKSHOPS AND
FILMS, AN INTERACTIVE THEATRICAL
E XPERIENCE AN D FAMILY FU N
ACTIVITIES.
Fashion Victims Opening and Programming
Opening in June to enthusiastic members, supporters
and friends of the Museum, the stunning exhibition
Fashion Victims: The Pleasures and Perils of Dress
in the 19th Century continues to attract top tier North
American media, as well as international media from
countries such as Germany, Greece, Italy and Taiwan.
Companion programs to the exhibition included a
19 th Century Literature in Film series, a 19 th Century
Pastimes with a 21 st Century Twist series, and a
Walk and Talk in the gallery with co-curators Alison
Mathews David and Elizabeth Semmelhack which
were offered to enthusiastic attendees.
Family Programming
Just prior to the successful March Break week
(see Education section) visitors also attended the
Museum for Family Day and enjoyed special hands on
demonstrations and sneaker-themed arts and crafts.
Weekend Family Fun with crafts, I Spy in the galleries
and try-on shoes continued on weekends and PA
days throughout the year. As well on weekends,
the visitor experience was enhanced with hands-on
demonstrations by a Museum Docent in the exhibitions
and families also enjoyed a day of performances by
the Toronto Storytelling Festival.
In September, the Museum presented handson demonstrations for Culture Days, a national
not-for-profit organization that raises the awareness,
accessibility, participation and engagement of
Canadians in the arts and cultural life of their
communities.
Holiday Programs
One of the more popular kid-friendly programs
offered by the Museum is the annual Halloween event.
With spooky I-Spy in the galleries, Halloween-themed
try on shoes, a number of arts and crafts activities and
a cookie to decorate, children in costumes arrived to
join in the fun. A few months later, families returned
to create winter-themed crafts such as decorating
mini-trees and stockings, making reindeer puppets
and designing ornament shaped cookies.
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Adult Programming
A site-specific play by Daniele Bartolini entitled The
Last Seven Steps of Bartholomew S. played out to
exclusive groups of attendees in each of the four
exhibitions, with four performances in February and
two in May. The sold-out events drew rave reviews
from the audience who became part of the story,
interacting with actors and plotlines and following the
steps of the title character.
MM2 Modern Dance of Philadelphia performed the
improvisational dance piece, Designed to Move You
in the All About Shoes exhibition as an affiliate event
for World Pride 2014.
Founder’s Lecturer for 2014. Her topic Manet: Fashion
and Fetish was lavishly illustrated and charmed the
sold-out crowd.
An exciting initiative also completed this year was the
installation of a new public Wifi system for visitors.
With this in place, a free streaming audioguide was
also launched for visitors using their personal devices.
The audioguide has been integral in enhancing the
museum experience by offering access to additional
information about artefacts and exhibitions.
Fashionista Tziporah Salamon used pictures, stories,
anecdotes and clothes to weave a rich tapestry of her
life journey in her performance The Fabric of my Life.
In addition, Conservator Ada Hopkins held an
exclusive Conservation Salon around the Fashion
Victims exhibition.
Book Clubs at the Bata Shoe Museum was a new
programming initiative. Existing book clubs picked
from a list of books whose themes relate to the
exhibitions, held their discussion at the Museum and
enjoyed a customized tour referencing the book.
Dr. Gloria Groom, Senior Curator, The Art Institute of
Chicago was the speaker for the Museum’s annual
#EngagingTheCommunity
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COMMUNITY
OUTREACH
#CommunityOutreach
2014 SAW THE MUSEUM WELCOME
AND INSPIRE TALENTED YOUNG
ARTISTS, HELP LAUNCH A NEW
CULTURAL INITIATIVE AND TRAVEL
WITH HANDS-ON ARTEFACTS TO
SEVERAL COMMUNITIES.
BSM Annual Sock Drive
successful festival in June.
For the past six years the Museum has successfully
campaigned for sock donations for those in need at
The Scott Mission, a worthy community organization.
For two weeks in November, visitors to the Museum
receive complimentary admission with a donation of
a pair of new athletic socks. With McGregor Socks as
the campaign’s corporate sponsor, donating several
thousand socks to the cause, the Museum is grateful
for the tremendous support from them and from the
community.
Toronto Public Library
As a special addition to this year’s sock drive, the
Museum, along with McGregor Socks, commissioned
local artists Kate Hogg and Gabriella Borg to create a
unique visual art piece inspired by the drive. Entitled
Sock Flock, the installation captured the spirit of
the many contributions that come together to make
any fundraiser successful, as a flock of birds comes
together through support and team work. (see image
left)
Asian Heritage Month & Dragon Boat Press
Conference
Asian Heritage Month is an important celebration for
the Museum. Pleased to once again be the venue
sponsor, the event welcomed a sold out audience
to watch as various artists performed throughout
the evening. The Museum was also pleased to be
the venue host for the Toronto International Dragon
Boat Festival Press Conference headed by Justin
Poy. Media and VIP attended the morning breakfast
which was used as a vehicle to promote the highly
The Toronto Public Library and Toronto Symphony
Orchestra chose the Museum as a venue for a
performance by “The Travelling Cellist” in celebration
of the Keep Toronto Reading Festival. As well, the
Education department traveled to 6 libraries within
the GTA, offering up a short shoe lesson, hands-on
demonstrations and arts and crafts to children from
a variety of neighbourhoods. An important outreach
initiative, the Museum is pleased to be able to take
part.
Bloor Street Culture Corridor
The Bloor Street Culture Corridor (BCC) is home to
one of Toronto’s most diverse arts and culture districts,
accessible all in one walkable mile along Bloor Street.
As one of 14 arts and culture organizations that have
come together in partnership in 2014 to create the
BCC, the Bata Shoe Museum is thrilled to be part of
this exciting initiative. Special offers by the partners
are promoted monthly via a new BCC app and online.
Arts for Children and Youth
Through Arts for Children and Youth, a foundation
that provides quality arts education for young
people in under-resourced communities and schools,
the Museum hosted a young artist who painted in
the exhibitions spaces. Inspired by the collection,
visitors were excited to see the works of art as they
developed.
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Scotiabank Nuit Blanche
Museum Arts Pass
The Museum continues to recognize the importance
of contemporary art and young talent to the city.
With this in mind, two independent projects were
hosted at the Museum for the 2014 Scotiabank Nuit
Blanche. Developed by Ryerson University students
from the Faculty of Architectural Science, both
innovative projects attracted over 4000 visitors
during the 12 hour event. While here, visitors also
took the opportunity to visit the Museum’s four
galleries. (See image above)
Another program that offers complimentary access
to hundreds of attractions in the city is the Sun Life
Financial Museum + Arts Pass. Offered to library
card holders, the program which initially targeted at
risk neighbourhoods (23 libraries in total) has since
expanded to include all libraries in the GTA. The
Museum believes very strongly in the initial mandate
and welcomed 4696 visitors under this program.
Cultural Access Pass
Offering new Canadian citizens and their dependents
the opportunity to experience culture in their city
during their first year of citizenship, the Cultural
Access Pass continues to be very successful. As
one of 1000 organizations offering this, the Museum
welcomed 928 new Canadians and their families in
2014, an increase from 431 families in the previous
year.
Unique Museums Campaign
The Unique Museum 2 for 1 offer continued to attract
many visitors to partner organizations, The Gardiner
Museum, the Design Exchange, the Museum of Inuit
Art and the Bata Shoe Museum. Focused on offering
2 for 1 admission at the institutions, the campaign
allows each partner to reach past its own audiences
to attract new ones.
#CommunityOutreach
33
SOCIAL
MEDIA
#SocialMedia
CONNECTING WITH AUDIENCES
AROUND THE WORLD CONTINUED TO
BE A PRIORITY. GREAT EFFORTS WERE
MADE TO CONTINUE TO GROW ONLINE
AUDIENCES VIA INNOVATIVE SOCIAL
MEDIA INITIATIVES AND ENGAGING
CONVERSATIONS, RESULTING IN
SUCCESSFULLY INCREASING VISITORS
ON ALL PLATFORMS, INCLUDING
THE CORPORATE SITE, YOUTUBE
CHANNEL, FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND
INSTAGRAM.
The World at Your Feet, a new video YouTube
series which launched in 2014 and featured our
Senior Curator, Elizabeth Semmelhack, highlighted
rare and unique artefacts right from the Museum’s
storage areas not readily seen by the public. With
10 episodes released over the course of the year,
nearly 15,000 views were achieved with the most
popular episode attracting 5000 views alone.
themes for posts which proved quite successful.
Offering relevant information in an attractive and
engaging way helped to increase support across all
platforms. The Museum also participated in several
worldwide initiatives including: #museumselfie,
#museumweek and #askacurator which helped
garner the attention of new audiences worldwide.
Facebook continued to be most popular, followed by
Twitter. Instagram also became important with 1,400
followers gained in 2014.
Articles appeared in major outlets, including the Wall
Street Journal, Maclean’s Magazine, Vogue Italy, New
York Magazine, Huffington Post, BDCWire, Women’s
Wear Daily, Collector’s Weekly, and the Globe and
Mail. Press junkets from around the world continued
to visit the Museum throughout the year.
The department focused on creating a consistent
message for outreach and began using
#bsmshoeoftheday hashtag to promote weekly
Media Highlights
35
WORLD AT YOUR FEET:
FIRST TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH
15,000 TOTAL VIEWS
10
5,000
EPISODES
VIEWS
TOP EPISODE
SOCIAL MEDIA
IN 2014
IN 2013
7,400
10,000
IN 2013
IN 2014
FACEBOOK LIKES
4300
1400
5000
TWITTER FOLLOWERS
#SocialMedia
IN 2014
INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS
BATASHOEMUSEUM.CA
USERS 177,647
13
%
81
%
LANGUAGES
SPOKEN BY USERS
2
USER ACTIVITY BY MONTH
2,000
1,000
April 2014
July 2014
October 2014
ALLABOUTSHOES.CA
USERS 41,726
70
13.5 %
LANGUAGES SPOKEN
BY USERS
86.5 %
15
O T H E R
USER ACTIVITY BY MONTH
15
300
150
April 2014
July 2014
October 2014
37
DEVELOPMENT
&
SUPPORT
#Development&Support
THE BATA SHOE MUSEUM IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION SUSTAINED
BY THE GENEROSITY OF INDIVIDUALS,
FOUNDATIONS, CORPORATIONS AND
PUBLIC AGENCIES. THE MUSEUM
COULD NOT FULFILL ITS ROLE AS
A WORLD CLASS ORGANIZATION
DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION,
DOCUMENTATION AND PROMOTION
OF CULTURAL HERITAGE WITHOUT
THEIR SUPPORT.
The M useum is proud of its charitable and
community outreach programs such as: Step Ahead,
PayWhatYouCan and our annual, Warm the Sole Sock
Drive. And thanks to the generosity of our donors, all
of our programs are designed to ensure public access
to the arts through the removal of financial barriers
for economically disadvantaged children and families.
2014 marked an important milestone in the delivery of
our educational programming. Since 2009, the Bata
Shoe Museum’s Step Ahead program has provided
educational outreach to children from Toronto’s at-risk
neighbourhoods. Thanks to the continued support of
BMO Financial Group, the Museum welcomed over
1,000 students from 19 schools during the 2014-2015
school year, representing a total program enrollment
to date of 6,000 students from 60 of Toronto’s
separate and public schools. Quite an achievement
since the Step Ahead program’s inception five years
ago. A new community initiative, Step Ahead After School
with beyond 3:30, was also launched in the 20142015 school year. In partnership with the Toronto
Foundation for Student Success, and with generous
support provided by The Toronto Foundation and
Oakville Community Foundation fund holders and the
Williams-Wilson Sherport Foundation, 480 additional
students participated in the new Step Ahead After
School. For many of these students, this program
provided a first-time visit to a Toronto museum. The Museum’s weekly PayWhatYouCan program
invites individuals and families to experience one of
the world’s most unique collections. This year we
welcomed 5,714 visitors to the Museum, a total of
28,977 since the PayWhatYouCan Program was first
established in 2011. Socks are one of the first items people request when
asking for assistance in the care of the homeless.
Each year, in celebration of National Philanthropy
Day, November 13rd , the Bata Shoe Museum hosts
the Warm the Sole Sock Drive. Socks collected are
39
donated to shelter-based charities. As the Museum approaches the celebration of its
20th anniversary in May 2015, we are grateful to all of
our donors for sharing this creative journey with us.
Our goal is to continue to increase our philanthropic
capacity so that we may better respond to the
growing need for community access and engagement
in the Arts and to create new and innovative
opportunities for cross-cultural understanding to all
who are welcomed through our doors.
#Development&Support
Individual Supporters
Corporations
(Supporting Level and above)
BMO Financial Group
Sonja Bata
Alan and Alice Adelkind
Foundations
Steve Arenburg and Sujeet Sennik
Bata Shoe Foundation
Nina Bricker
Anonymous Donor (a fund held within the Toronto
Foundation)
Frances Buczko
Nina Budman
Anna-Marie Christian
Anne Cobban
Missy Crosbie
Roger Davies and Jasmine Watts
Amanda Demers and Brian Collins
George and Leslie Denier
Victoria Dinnick
Barbara Goldring
Fern Hellard
Catherine Hurley
Nancy Jain
Martin Johannessen
Naomi Kirshenbaum
Paul Kitchener
Michael and Sonja Koerner
Ron Krell
Kathryn E. Langley Hope
Jill Le Clair
Nancy and Jon E. Love
Daphne and Charles Maurer
The Larry and Gerry Wilson Fund (a fund held within
the Oakville Community Foundation)
Vandewater Family Fund (a fund held within the
Toronto Foundation)
Williams-Wilson Sherport Foundation
Public/Government
The Government of Canada
The Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport
The Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund
Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation
In Kind
CP24
CTV
Duke Pubs
FASHION Magazine
LOOP Media
McGregor Socks
Toronto Star
Karim Rashid Inc
Ingrid and Dan Mida
Kate Mitanidis
Peter and Melanie Munk
Daniel O’Brien and Frank Bartoszek
Paul Rowan
Ekaterina Sokolova
Anna Stahmer Jarmain
Georgina Steinsky
Pamela Stevenson
Mary Symons
41
FINANCIALS
#Financials
EXPENSES 2014
ADMINISTRATION
ACTIVITIES
SALARIES
INCOME 2014
EARNED REVENUE
INVESTMENT REVENUE
GOVERNMENT
DONATIONS
43
THE
ORGANIZATION
#TheOrganization
BATA SHOE MUSEUM STAFF
Director
Emanuele Lepri
Head of Communications
Rosmarie Gadzovski
Administrator/ Admin Assistant
Evette Bacay /Jane Lou
New Media Manager/Membership Officer
Nicole Cahill
Director of Philanthropy
Catherine Hurley
Museum Assistant
Stephanie Bernard
Senior Curator
Elizabeth Semmelhack
Facility Rental Coordinator
Victoria Pereira
Curatorial Assistant
Nishi Bassi
Building Manager
Ted Jubbs
Conservator
Ada Hopkins
Controller
Heather Young and Associates
Collections Manager
Suzanne Petersen
Auditor
Ernst and Young
Head of Education and Programming
Sheila Knox
Education Coordinator
Andrea Field
Visitor Services Manager
Christopher Mitanidis
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
BATA SHOE MUSEUM FOUNDATION
Sonja Bata
Margot Ritchie
Christine Bata Schmidt
Anna Stahmer Jarmain
Marilynn Booth (beginning April 2014)
Georgina Steinsky
David Bowden
Mary Symons
Thomas Drucker
Leslie Tenenbaum (Secretary)
45
#TheOrganization
T H E B ATA S H O E M U S E U M
CANNOT ACHIEVE ITS MANDATE
WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF
ENTHUSIASTIC AND DEDICATED
VO LU NTEERS W H O G IV E
THOUSANDS OF HOURS EACH
YE AR TO THE INSTITUTION .
IN 2014, OVER 100 DOCENTS,
F R O N T D E S K VO LU N T E E R S
AND MUSEUM AMBASSADORS
HAVE PASSIONATELY DONATED
11,500 HOURS OF THEIR TIME TO
EDUCATING AND ENTERTAINING
VISITORS YOUNG AND OLD.
THE BATA SHOE MUSEUM IS
DEEPLY THANKFUL FOR THEIR
SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS
AND COMMITMENT.
47
Images © 2014 Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto, Canada.
for every shoe there’s a story
Bata Shoe Museum
327 Bloor St West
Toronto ON Canada M5S 1W7
(416) 979-7799
www.batashoemuseum.ca