[11] The collection was first publicly displayed in Toronto in 1992 at the Colonnade retail complex. ABOUT BATA SHOE MUSEUM. From the St. George subway station (on both the Bloor-Danforth and the Yonge-University lines), exit onto St. George Street. [4] Techniques and designs from shoes collected were used to mimic traditional styles found in local markets. 4.4. [33] The museum does not restore its older, or heavily damaged pieces it acquires, instead treating it to preserve their present condition, and to prevent further deterioration. Today, the thought of a man in heels is met with disbelief and conjures up notions of transgression. Bata Shoe Museum: Shoemakers history - See 1,324 traveler reviews, 884 candid photos, and great deals for Toronto, Canada, at Tripadvisor. [19] The museum's oldest pair of shoes from the Americas is believed to be an Anasazi made from yucca fibres. The “Bata Shoe Museum Foundation” was conceived in 1979 by Sonja Bata, with the intention of taking care of the family footwear collection. The BSM celebrates the style, development and function of footwear across four impressive galleries, with displays ranging from Chinese bound-foot shoes and ancient … Discover a collection of over a thousand models made out of wood, silk, fur and even hair. [1][8][9] Although the organization shared the same name as the Bata company, the foundation was established as a non-profit entity, legally separate from the Bata company. A perfect place for shoe lovers, Toronto's Bata Shoe Museum displays over 4,500 years of history with models from all over the world. The museum also hosts and organizes a number of temporary and travelling exhibitions, and outreach programs. [35] The museum also holds a collection of shoes worn by notable individuals, including Pierce Brosnan, Roger Federer, Terry Fox, Elton John, Karen Kain, John Lennon, Madonna, Marilyn Monroe, Napoleon, Elvis Presley, Robert Redford, Elizabeth Taylor, Pierre Trudeau, and Queen Victoria.[31][36]. [20], The museum building contains four exhibition galleries, used to exhibit the permanent, and temporary and travelling exhibitions. Forgot account? You will then receive an email that helps you regain access. Il a été créé en 1995 par la famille Bata via la Bata Shoe Museum Foundation. [4] However, the scope was later expanded to be a historical and anthropological collection, when Sonja Bata began to collect shoes from local populations where Bata factories were displacing local footwear, in an attempt to preserve and document shoes that were being replaced. [20] Lighting in the exhibition is subdued, in an effort to protect the collection from deterioration. Community See All. [12] The cost to construct the building was not disclosed by the Bata family or the foundation, although estimates reported to be C$8 million to C$12 million. [14] In 2006, the slippers were valued at approximately C$160,000, whereas the gold anklet was valued at C$45,000, and the toe ring at C$11,000. [6] The exhibition also features exhibits that examine the development of shoe-making technologies, with mini dioramas of shoe-making workshops throughout history with supplementary text and video. Bata Shoe Museum. Not just the trendy and beautiful, which are there as well, but a time line of mans creation of and evolution of footwear. Bata Shoe Museum: History Buffs and Shoe Buffs UNITE! [6][21] The museum's permanent exhibition is situated in the lower two levels in the building's east side, whereas specialized temporary exhibitions are situated in the galleries of the building's second and third levels. [17] St. George station is the closest Toronto subway station from the building. [32] The museum acts to conserve but not restore shoes, preventing ongoing deterioration, but not removing signs of wear or replace missing parts. The motto is attributed to Robertson Davies, who suggested it when asked by Sonja Bata. [25], The museum's permanent exhibition, All About Shoes, provides a historical survey of footwear throughout history and includes interactive displays that highlight the social significance of shoes and their development from various cultures. 1720-40, English When Charles Perrault published Cinderella at the end of the 17th century, ideas of female beauty in the West were changing; daintiness was of growing importance in the “naturalization” of gender difference. These included The Gentle Step, which focused on the changing status of women in the 19th century, and was reflected in the development of their footwear; One, Two, Buckle My Shoe, an exhibition that focused on footwear in literature; and Inuit Boots: A Woman's Art, which focused on Inuit mukluk making. Turn left (walk south) for about 30 seconds and you’ll be at the northeast corner of Bloor Street West and St. George Street. [13][18] The building's exterior also features windows 13 metres (42 ft) above the ground. However, it hasn’t always been this way. Sonja began collecting shoes shortly after her marriage to Thomas J. Bata in 1946, and their subsequent move to Toronto. The museum also operates the Step Ahead program, a program subsidized by the Bank of Montreal, providing at-risk children an opportunity to access the museum's interactive curriculum-based programs free of charge. [38] The crest of the arms is animal skin, defaced with a knife, representing two materials used for shoe-making. [28], The museum has organized and hosted a number of temporary, and travelling exhibitions in its other exhibition galleries. The 3,665-square-metre (39,450 sq ft) museum building was designed by Moriyama & Teshima Architects, with Raymond Moriyama as the lead architect. In 1965, the company's headquarters was formally relocated from Zlínto … An annual lecture series, The Founder's Lecture is held each November and is a public event featuring an internationally recognized leading thinker engaged with the convergence of culture and society. A paradise of all kinds of shoes awaits you at Bata Shoe Museum, a sort of giant shoe box transformed into a work of art by architect Raymond Moriyama. [1][8] At the suggestion of a friend and anthropologist, Sonja Bata provided an endowment to establish the Bata Shoe Museum Foundation in 1979; an organization that would fund research into footwear and professionally manage the collection. Book your tickets online for Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto: See 1,325 reviews, articles, and 884 photos of Bata Shoe Museum, ranked No.29 on Tripadvisor among 578 attractions in Toronto. [33] The following is a part of the museum's philosophy in which it sees worn footwear as having significant cultural meaning. [6][13] The building utilizes most of the property's area, due to local zoning by-laws restricting the height of the building to 13.4 metres (44 ft). At the museum’s entrance, a two-storey transparent glass wedge breaks the limestone wall in two and spills out onto … The museum is located in a 3,665-square-metre-building (39,450 sq ft) at the southwest corner of St. George Street and Bloor Street West, near the northwest corner of the University of Toronto's St. George campus. The museum's collection originated from the personal collections of Sonja Bata, which arose from her interest in the products produced by her spouse's company, the Bata shoe company. [27] Stored items are placed in one of two subterranean vaults. Not Now. [4][5][6] In 1965, the company's headquarters was formally relocated from Zlín to Toronto (the company's headquarters was later relocated to Lausanne in 2002). [11] In a conciliatory gesture, the Metropolitan Toronto council proposed the foundation drop the name Bata from the name of the museum, although Sonja Bata refused and abandoned plans to build the museum at Harbourfront. Our Story. [19], The smallest shoes typically on display in the permanent exhibition are 7.6 centimetres (3 in) Chinese shoes made for women who had their foot bound. [27], The exhibits were devised by Montreal-based design firm Design+Communication Ltd., who designed the exhibits with the shoes placed close to the viewer, with monochromatic images of social life to provide context to the shoe's historical use. See more of Bata Shoe Museum on Facebook. Closed Now . [13][18] The floors in the museum's lower levels are made of dark-coloured woods, shaped in diamond parquets, a trompe-l'œil that draws visitors' eyes to their own feet. If you think you have been blocked in error, contact the owner of this site for assistance. [38] The boot featured on the arms represents all footwear, whereas the two keys is a common symbol in Canadian heraldry for museums. [1][5], Since its establishment, the foundation set out to find a building to house the collection, exhibit footwear, and house calceology research centres. For every shoe there’s a story. [34], The museum's oldest piece of footwear from Europe are a pair of sandals, worn by a shepherd from the Tyrolian Alps around 5200 BP. Discover thousands in North America's charming and surprising shoe m... See More. In addition to exhibit halls, the building also includes a gift shop, lecture theatre, and reception hall. (HTTP response code 503). The Bata Shoe Museum currently holds over 13,000 shoes and related artefacts, spanning 4,500 years of footwear history. [6] The phrase has multiple meanings, suggesting the progression of the institution and its collection, the progression of research into footwear, and as a description for walking.[38]. The BSM truly provides a history of the world through footwear. The company employed 10 full-time employees with a fixed work schedule and a regular weekly wage. In the midst of all the art, film, food etc, Toronto has to offer, the Bata Shoe Museum is a delightful gem. 4.4 out of 5 stars. [4][5] The Bata family moved to Toronto in the 1940s in order to facilitate the company's expansion into Toronto and the Americas. [27] What's Their Line? At the direction of the Government of Ontario, the Bata Shoe Museum is temporarily closed. [20][22] The exhibition galleries were designed as "neutral spaces," enabling the museum to host a variety of exhibitions. Access from your area has been temporarily limited for security reasons. [19] Shoes are typically displayed on a low-rising dais, typically built from blonde maple wood. By Transit. [38] The coat of arms uses the official colours of the institution, blue and gold, and features a triangular division placed along the position of the thongs found on most sandals. Your access to this service has been limited. The foundation exhibited the collection to the public for the first time in 1992, although it did not open a permanent facility for its museum until May 1995. [5] Bata initially made a bid to build the museum at Harbourfront, although it faced public protest. [9] Approximately four per cent of the museum's collection is on display, with the remaining items kept in storage. [6][13], In January 2006, a pair of jewel-encrusted Indian majori slippers used by Sikandar Jah, along with a gold anklet, and toe ring were stolen from the museum. The aptly shoe-shaped building has four levels for browsing. Events often illuminate a personal connection or a cultural context in which footwear was created. The Bata Shoe Museum definitely exceeded my expectations. The museum's building is situated near the northwest of the University of Toronto's St. George campus, in downtown Toronto. You can also read the documentation to learn about Wordfence's blocking tools, or visit wordfence.com to learn more about Wordfence. The shoe box shaped building houses a historical collection of shoes through time. [2] The museum has organized themed family activities. The following was the year the Bata Shoe Museum Foundation was officially established. One of the major challenges in designing a museum is to generate excitement and attract visitors. [18] A 12.8-metre-high (42 ft) stained glass panel in shoe-like shapes sits atop the building's central staircase. The museum's permanent collection includes over 13,000 shoes, and other footwear related items dating back 4,500 years; providing the museum with the largest collection of footwear in the world. [15] The stolen items were recovered several weeks later by the museum.[15]. [16] Prior to the museum occupying the site, a gas station was situated on the property. examines purpose-built, specialized footwear including French chestnut-crushing clogs, and sumo wrestler's geta[27] The Behind the Scenes component of the exhibition is where shoes, and other items from the museum's collection are placed on display. If you are a WordPress user with administrative privileges on this site, please enter your email address in the box below and click "Send". The Bata Shoe Museum conducts and sponsors research into understanding the role of footwear in cultural and social life. [1][5] The foundation operated as a privately funded organization, as Sonja Bata opposed the creation of an institution reliant on public funds. Items in the museum's collection are either held in storage, or placed on display in its permanent exhibition. [19] The building's main hall features a central stairwell ornate with bronze medallions cast by Dora de Pedery-Hunt; and circles cut into the stair risers to let in light from the windows above. - See 1,326 traveler reviews, 884 candid photos, and great deals for Toronto, Canada, at Tripadvisor. Moriyama was inspired to shape the building like the boxes used to store and protect the Batas' footwear collection when he viewed them in 1978. History Museum in Toronto, Ontario. [20] Larger architectural images intended to evoke the temporal cultural provenance of the shoes are also displayed behind these exhibits. 23,614 people like this. The Bata Shoe Museum is located at 327 Bloor Street West, at the southwest corner of Bloor Street West and St. George. The label in the shoe clearly established that it was made by the American Jonas S. Bass whose store was located at 45 Marlboro’ Street, Boston. The museum hosted its first three temporary exhibitions in May 1995. The museum's collection of footwear originated from the personal collections of Sonja Bata, started in the mid-1940s. [24] The Virtual Museum of Canada has also hosted online exhibits created by the Museum. The museum also hosts shoemakers from around the world to demonstrate shoe-making techniques to the public, in an attempt to counteract the displacement of local shoe-making forms. Museum Closure. A permanent facility for the museum was not opened to the public until 6 May 1995. [38], The museum's motto, One step at a time (or Latin: Per Saecula Gradatim), is featured on the museums arms. [32], In 2018, nearly 9,000 students visited the museum for school related excursions.