Have you ever wanted to explore the original 100 Acre Wood? The team at the Victoria and Albert Museum and the ROM are making it happen with Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic! The immersive experience is curated as six storybook chapters, with each chapter (or exhibit) allowing us to experience the 100 Acre Wood in all of its original glory. The fantastic exhibit is opening just in time for Spring Break, making for a fantastic family day activity in Bloor-Yorkville!
Sneak Peek: Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic
The exhibit itself is designed to appeal to people of all ages, with interactive spaces providing children with an opportunity to have a tangible experience alongside their parents, who may take more of an interest in the original notebooks, letters, and sketches on display.
A creative light display in one of the exhibits makes for a “river” running underneath the iconic bridge, where Pooh and his friends dropped/tossed sticks and pinecones, while Christopher Robin’s “bedroom” serves as space for children to explore and hang out. Of course, there are the woods themselves, which feature birch tree replicas and Eeyore’s house of sticks, the river, and footbridge.
More than 200 works are featured in the exhibit covering the history of Winnie-the-Pooh from 1914 to the present day. Included in the works are the very first portraits of Winnie-the-Pooh, original pencil/pen and ink drawings, memorabilia such as plush toys from the 1930s, a handwritten letter from author A. A Milne to illustrator E.H Shepard, and a WWI diary from 1914.
Creative and educational activities are scattered throughout the exhibit: children can practice counting with Pooh’s honeypots, practice sketching at the honey dining table, and read a book on Christopher Robin’s bed. Many more surprises like slides, games, and writing activities make for an exciting and immersive experience.
Given that the original Winnie was a Canadian bear (from Winnipeg of course!), Canadian heritage is thoughtfully represented throughout the exhibit. As our tour guide Dr. Julius Bryant of the Victoria & Albert Museum said, “Winnie is returning home!”
Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic runs from March 7th – August 3rd. Learn more here.