Participants invited to match wits with grade school students in support of ROM research
The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) announces the 15th anniversary of the highly successful Fact? or Fiction? fundraising event for curatorial research, organized by the ROM Governors. The fun and games kick off Tuesday, October 18, 2011 from 7 to 10:30 pm, hosted by Ziya Tong and Dan Riskin from Discovery Channel’s flagship series Daily Planet.
Scorecard in hand, Fact? or Fiction? participants attempt to determine the true nature or purpose of rarely seen objects from the ROM’s vast collections, based on two plausible descriptions given by devious Museum curators. Players are encouraged to ask curators questions concerning the legitimacy of the item or description to figure out which explanation is fact and which is fiction. The grand prize winner receives a luxury trip to Antarctica.
As an added twist, the ROM has invited five students representing grade schools around the Greater Toronto Area to take on our curators and guests. Students were carefully selected through an essay contest challenging them to correctly identify a depicted item’s correct description. All five selected students’ classes also receive a school visit to the ROM.
New this year, guests have the option to attend the event as a team of up to 10 people. In addition to the luxurious grand prize of an Antarctic Peninsula Adventure Cruise, participating teams are eligible to win a Team Challenge prize and will have access to a VIP Reception, complete with a private bar and an exclusive opportunity to mingle with ROM curators.
General tickets cost $250 and a Team Challenge costs $5,000. All tickets include a gourmet buffet dinner and the opportunity to compete in the game. To purchase tickets click here. The ROM is the largest field research museum in Canada with curatorial and research staff in more than 30 countries around the globe. All proceeds from Fact? or Fiction? support ROM curatorial research through the ROM Research Endowment Fund. Tax receipts for maximum allowable amount will be issued per Canada Revenue Agency guidelines. Tickets are non-refundable. Guests may be photographed or filmed at this event.
Led by Committee Chair Roman Dubczak, the Fact? or Fiction? Organizing Committee includes Peter Carruthers, Kasia Jamroz, Michelle Khalili, Jeffrey Musson, Elizabeth Schad, Flavio Volpe, Brad Widish, and Emily Won
-30-
The ROM Governors, formerly known as the ROM Foundation, are committed to the long-term financial health of the Museum, raising and directing funds for its highest priorities and fostering sustainable relationships of exceptional value both to the institution and its donors. The ROM Governors are also accountable for a variety of the Museum’s philanthropic, sponsorship, fundraising events and patron programs.
The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is an agency of the Government of Ontario. Opened in 1914, Canada’s largest museum of natural history and world cultures has six million objects in its collections and galleries showcasing art, archaeology and natural science. For 24-hour information in English and French, please call 416.586.8000 or visit the ROM’s web site at www.rom.on.ca
