Spotlight on Music


Date: Aug 10
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Where: Level 3 Atrium

Enjoy performances by local outstanding musicians as they fill The Rooms with music and songs from our province’s rich musical history.  Be prepared to sing along, tap your toes or just sit back and delight in the moment. Included in the cost of admission.

Featuring:

Fergus O’Byrne – July 13 and August 10

Fergus O'Byrne is widely acclaimed for his musical legacy, as a member of Ryan's Fancy, Tickle Harbour, working as a duo with Jim Payne, or performing with his son, Fergus Brown-O’Byrne, and as a solo artist. He proudly celebrates the songs of his adopted province, Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as Ireland, England, Scotland and the Maritimes in his performances.

O’Byrne has received many awards acknowledging his contribution to folk music including an ECMA Lifetime Achievement Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Folk Arts Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, and an NLAC Arts in Education award. Besides touring nationally and internationally, he works extensively mentoring young folk music enthusiasts and students throughout the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Jim Payne – July 27 and August 24

A native of Notre Dame Bay, Jim Payne is an award-winning performer, collector and producer of traditional Newfoundland music, as well one of the province’s most prolific songwriters, whose songs and stories reflect the folklore of the province as well as historic and contemporary issues faced by coastal peoples of the North West Atlantic.

Jim is a recipient of Arts NL’s Outstanding Cultural Achievement and Arts in Education Awards, and has been awarded a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. He has also received a Cultural Tourism Award from the NL Dept. of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, the federal Dept. of Canadian Heritage, and Hospitality NL. He was inducted into Arts NL’s Hall of Honour in 2016, presented with the ECMA’s Stompin’ Tom Connor’s Award in 2017, and received both the NL Folk Arts Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award and Music NL’s Industry Builder Award in 2021.

Events & Programs

9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Summer Camp

Save The Date – Online Registration Opening Soon!

Registration Dates:

  • Rooms Members: Tuesday, March 18 at 10:00 AM
  • Non-Members: Thursday, March 20 at 10:00 AM
     

A “Get Tickets” button will appear on this page when registration opens. Online registration only.

Once you've completed your online registration, please download the Registration Form and submit it to RoomsOrders@therooms.ca to complete your registration. 

Adventures Await!
Get ready for an unforgettable summer! The Rooms will be offering exciting 5-day camps for 8 weeks, filled with creativity, exploration, and fun.

Who Can Attend?
Camp K-3: Open to campers who have completed Kindergarten to Grade 3 by June 2025. 
Camp 4-6: Open to campers who have completed Grades 4 to 6 by June 2025. 
(No Exceptions)

What to Expect?
Each week, campers will dive into inspiring exhibitions and collections, with activities focused on creative expression through engaging daily themes.

Camp Details!
Cost: $265 Per Week + HST.
10% Discount for Rooms Members (Member Number Required)

Schedule:
Camp Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Drop-off: Between 8:45 AM – 9:00 AM
Pick-up: Between 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Mark your calendars and get ready for an amazing summer at The Rooms!

10:30 am - 11:00 am
Tour

Join us each day for an interpretive guided tour in one of our galleries. From the story of the Cod fishery to visiting a current art exhibition to a Family Rainbow tour, there is something for everyone. 

Each tour is approximately 30 – 40 minutes and is included in the cost of admission. Free for Rooms members.

Auks, Wolves and Whales

What fills the void when a species is no more? Legends, folklore, and history worth learning from. Come listen to the stories of the Great Auk, the Newfoundland Wolf, and Endangered Whales as they echo across the ages through their body and bones. Commiserate with the extinct, heed the calls of the endangered, hold ossified bones, and see how artists transform tragedy into hope for a sustainable future.

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2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Spotlight

Get to know the people behind the scenes at The Rooms! Each Wednesday this summer, we're shining a spotlight on special collections we care for and the staff who work with them.

From archaeology and archives to natural history and conservation, you'll hear firsthand stories about what it's like to work with Newfoundland and Labrador’s most fascinating collections.

Each week features a new topic and a new face—come with questions and curiosity!

Summer Schedule:

  • July 2- Miki Lee and Brittany Mitchell
  • July 9 – Robyn Lacy
  • July 16 – Ann Devlin
  • July 23 – Lori Temple
  • August 6 - Joan Mowbray
  • August 13 – Elayne Greeley
  • August 20 – Elizabeth Fewer
  • August 27 – Nathalie Djan-Chekar
2:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Tour

Join us each day for an interpretive guided tour in one of our galleries. From the story of the Cod fishery to visiting a current art exhibition to a Family Rainbow tour, there is something for everyone. 

Each tour is approximately 30 – 40 minutes and is included in the cost of admission. Free for Rooms members.

Grounding: Through the Senses

This sensory tour of the art gallery exhibition 'Grounding' is accessible through touchable objects, audio descriptions, scents, and soundscapes. Participants can experience the exhibition’s themes and artworks in a way that emphasizes accessibility, inclusion, and meaningful engagement with Newfoundland and Labrador’s culture.

6:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Tour

Join us each day for an interpretive guided tour in one of our galleries. From the story of the Cod fishery to visiting a current art exhibition to a Family Rainbow tour, there is something for everyone. 

Each tour is approximately 30 – 40 minutes and is included in the cost of admission. Free for Rooms members.

Fishing for Cod

For centuries, fishing for cod has played a vital role in the lives of the peoples of Newfoundland and Labrador. Generations of fishing men, women and children made use of the land and sea to sustain them and spent their lives “making fish”.