“All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt!”

The immortal words of Peanuts’ Lucy Van Pelt formed part of the entry procession to the Candy Unwrapped exhibit- a walk through a giant gumball machine, into a space containing an 18 foot long ‘jump-on’ tongue, a pucker recorder, a test to show you that flavor and taste are remarkably different, and a climbing wall made from sugar crystals.

The Discovery Gallery offers an immersive experience into the cultural and natural history of Hong Kong, from cooking in a rural house, to shrimp fishing, to making your own bird! The archaeology of the region is explored through hands- on activities, making it authentic learning, with lots of reasons to return.

As the population ages, innovative ways to allow people to stay in their homes as they age will become an imperative. The Toronto Rehab Institute is creating assistive devices and groundbreaking protocols to help people retain or regain mobility, even after a stroke, heart problem or other disabling condition. TRI is showcasing their genius is a new gallery, currently in fundraising, to give the public and industry the chance to both know, and invest, in the creative pursuit of getting old with ease.

The AGOs first family gallery- giving art as experience. Appropriately, in a world where experience and art have become synonymous, Off the Wall let you become a portrait, create your own ‘blow up’ painting experience, and create an assembly of strange magnetic parts to assemble a towering sculpture. The gallery became a well loved location for families and school groups, a must return location to hook a young audience and entice life long museum visitors starting very young.

The world is filled with patterns, in nature and in built forms. By building a bee hive, creating a Navajo basket pattern with a rope, or trying to make a tree that branches every which way, patterns are experienced and become visceral and memorable. How is a row of telephone poles like an Indian block print? Can Islamic mosaics seem similar to a velvet quilt? Pattern Wizardy created experiences (in 3 languages, all text as poetry!) that were tactile, experiential, cultural and scientific, all in one place.

Enter ArtSparks through an intense blue corridor where your movements create an orchestral creation of crickets, subway cars and bagpipes. Once inside, you can weave a gigantic tapestry, build your own architectural creation, and become part of a psychedelic interactive video room. Give us your video feedback on modern art, or create a Plains Indian beadwork pattern. ArtSparks is a place for intergeneration engagement, from toddlers to grandparents.

By creating an evocative family experience, we brought 1920s Egypt to life through the eyes of ex-pat Brits with comfy chairs and magnifying glasses. The club seemed perhaps more suited to gin and cricket than serious conversation, but families enjoyed the chance to examine live scarab beetles, identify the ‘who’s who’ of Egyptian ruling classes, and got to ‘travel’ down the Nile. A visit to the Egyptian collection of the Hermitage through a hybrid CD/internet access gave techies lots to do, and a harem-like reading tent was popular for kids and parents.