Jack Lohman was first struck with the First Peoples Gallery when he travelled to Victoria in the 1990s for a research project in South Africa.

B次元官网网址淚 came here looking at the way in which museums tell the story of indigenous people,B次元官网网址� says Lohman, who replaced Pauline Rafferty as CEO of the Royal B.C. Museum in March.

Back in 1999, Lohman was appointed CEO of a collective representing 15 national museums and based in Cape Town.

B次元官网网址淲hen I arrived, black peopleB次元官网网址檚 history was in the natural history museum and white peopleB次元官网网址檚 history was in the cultural history museum,B次元官网网址� he recalls.

Similarly, white artifacts were displayed on pedestals while African art was displayed in cases on the floor. B次元官网网址淭he first thing I did was put a shutter down (on the displays) B次元官网网址� It was the last bastion of Apartheid,B次元官网网址� he says.

LohmanB次元官网网址檚 post in South Africa represents only one of a long list of international experiences. His resum茅 includes director of the Museum of London, chair of the National Museum in Warsaw, Poland, and advisor to the Museum of Slavery in Qatar and the Institute for National Museums of Rwanda.

Speaking about his decision to come to Victoria, Lohman dismisses the suggestion that heB次元官网网址檚 accepted a position in a small and sleepy city compared to his previous engagements.

B次元官网网址淭here is a challenge here,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淢useums say they tell stories, but I really am interested to see. Give me an example of where they tell stories. I want to prove that you can.B次元官网网址�

While he compliments the museumB次元官网网址檚 exhibitry, heB次元官网网址檚 clear it falls short on its ability to communicate to its audience.

With fresh eyes, he strolls through the displays, doling out both praise and criticism. B次元官网网址淎ll these objects have come from somewhere. TheyB次元官网网址檝e all got stories and youB次元官网网址檝e got to think about what is it we want people to know about B次元官网网址� what do we want them thinking about?B次元官网网址�

Illustrated panels depicting the colonistsB次元官网网址� early encounter with First Nations he calls B次元官网网址渃heesy,B次元官网网址� adding the museum needs to find a new way of .

Atmosphere is of utmost importance to Lohman.

For his line-up of media interviews, to introduce him to the community, he has carefully crafted the setting: a table for two in the dimly-lit First Peoples Gallery surrounded by totem poles and audio recordings of frogs and chanting.

B次元官网网址淕osh, this is an exceptional view,B次元官网网址� he says, switching gears mid point. B次元官网网址淟ook at the size of these trees B次元官网网址� TheyB次元官网网址檙e staggering.B次元官网网址�

Visitors to the museum donB次元官网网址檛 remember the facts and figures, Lohman says. B次元官网网址淏ut they remember the emotion of being in the atmosphere of these very special walk-through set pieces, I think.B次元官网网址�

Tim Willis, director of exhibitions and visitor experience, agrees.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been working for a while on a plan to renew the entire visitor experience,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just so exciting to have somebody like Jack start and find oneself fully aligned with his perspective.B次元官网网址�

When the galleries were built in the 1970s, they were  state of the art, Willis says.

Today, the galleries give the impression of having been deserted, he says. B次元官网网址淲hat we now know is our visitors have a great appetite to know the tensions and struggles and joys of people in the past.B次元官网网址�

Bringing science from the backrooms to the forefront is another focus for Lohman.

B次元官网网址�(Scientists) are looking very closely at the living world in British Columbia and how itB次元官网网址檚 changing, with climate change. ThatB次元官网网址檚 one of the areas IB次元官网网址檇 like to be able to foreground,B次元官网网址� he says.

launched by his predecessor for a major redevelopment and expansion of the museum.

Finding funding for the proposal promises to be a major challenge. But itB次元官网网址檚 one Lohman has a history of overcoming.

In Warsaw, he brought the museum from the red into the black. In London, he spearheaded a $20-million redevelopment.

But it was in South Africa, where museums receive no government funding, that these skills got put to the test.

B次元官网网址淚 remember a situation where I couldnB次元官网网址檛 pay the staff salary bill,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚magine, itB次元官网网址檚 coming to the end of the month and IB次元官网网址檝e got 560 staff.B次元官网网址�

In a desperate move, he approached Daimler-Benz for help. In exchange, he agreed to display a Mercedes-Benz from the museumB次元官网网址檚 collection.

B次元官网网址淭he relationship proved fantastic,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淒aimler-Benz gave me three vans and I was able to do a community outreach program.B次元官网网址�

Museum funding needs to come from many sources, he says. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e going to need private support.B次元官网网址�

rholmen@vicnews.com