MONOVA is delighted to welcome Barbara Hilden to the position of Curator. Photo: Alison Boulier

MONOVA: Museum of North Vancouver is pleased to announce the appointment of its new curator, Barbara L. Hilden.

An accomplished museum professional with over a decade of curatorial and collections experience, Barbara is a curator, writer, researcher, and exhibit designer. She has a Master’s degree in Cultural Studies from the University of Alberta and “believes strongly in the power that objects have to connect us with something greater.”

“We are delighted that Barbara, with her wide-ranging curatorial and exhibition experience, joins MONOVA in preparation for the fall 2021 opening of the exciting new community museum in North Vancouver’s Shipyards District,” said Wesley Wenhardt, Director of MONOVA.

Most recently, Hilden was Collections and Curatorial Lead for Puke Ariki Museum in New Plymouth, New Zealand.

Previously Barbara served as Curator & Exhibits Coordinator at the Borealis Gallery in the Legislative Assembly Office of Alberta, where she was responsible for the 1225 AD Magna Carta and Charter of the Forest, Magna Carta: Law, Liberty and Legacy. On loan from Durham Cathedral, United Kingdom and only one of four Canadian stops, the exhibit drew more 26,000 people in 35 days. The exhibit programming included knights as historical reenactors,  demonstrating weaponry and jousting fight choreography.

Other exhibitions she has curated, co-curated, and/or designed include Voices for the Vote, Alberta & the Great War, The Dream We Form By Being Together, Fur: The Fabric of Our Nation and In Flew Enza: The Spanish Flu Comes to Alberta.   

Barbara has been an instructor of Certificate of Museum Studies (Exhibits) with the Alberta Museums Association, and worked with the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Smithsonian Institution and Ludwig Maximillian University, Germany. She also brings to MONOVA experience in community volunteer leadership as an Advisory Board Member for the City of Edmonton and Chair of the Edmonton Historical Board.

“I’m very excited to be joining MONOVA at this important time,” said Hilden. “With the new Museum of North Vancouver opening this fall, I look forward to strengthening and building new relationships in the community, especially those with the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. I’m excited to learn more about the community of North Vancouver and honoured to work with the museum and archives team on the launch of North Vancouver’s newest cultural attraction.”

“I’m very much looking forward to working alongside Barbara in her new role,” added Board Chair Dee Dhaliwal. “Her rich curatorial experience and interest in meaningful community engagement will place the new Museum of North Vancouver on a strong foundation when we open later in 2021. Welcome to the team, Barbara.”

Watch for further announcements on the upcoming opening of the new MONOVA: Museum of North Vancouver in the coming weeks.