$30 million latest gift from James and Louise Temerty to museum raises their philanthropy to $400 million
A transformative endowment of $30-million from the James and Louise Temerty’s foundation to the Royal Ontario Museum will fund a set of initiatives aimed at broadening ROM’s reach and ensuring it serves as an even more open and welcoming cultural hub for all visitors.
The gift has established the Temerty Community Access and Engagement Fund with a multifaceted vision focusing on three key pillars: enhancing accessibility through free admission opportunities, enriching the visitor experience with dynamic new programs, and ensuring the museum remains relevant and adaptable for future generations.
A tangible outcome will be the return of ROM’s popular Free Main Floor program.
First piloted in the summers of 2022, 2023 and 2024, the initiative offers complimentary access to the museum’s extensive main floor galleries.
The gift will also help support other key access initiatives, including ROM’s free admission on Canada Day and the Third Tuesday Nights Free program, presented by TD Bank Group, through its corporate citizenship platform, the TD Ready Commitment, and bolster the ROM Community Access Network (ROMCAN), a vital program that provides free museum access to a range of community groups, from Indigenous youth to Canadian newcomers.
“Through the Temerty Foundation’s extraordinary support, ROM continues to strengthen community and provide a landmark destination for all to gather, connect and be inspired,” says Josh Basseches, ROM director and CEO. “This funding increases public access, and enables special programs, live performances and hands-on activities, making ROM an even greater cultural anchor and gathering place for Ontarians.”
Ontario’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, Stan Cho, echoed this sentiment.
“Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of the Temerty Foundation, ROM will be able to expand both its programs and its reach, thereby strengthening the museum’s role as a vibrant civic hub. Private-sector support such as this is crucial to supporting the continued innovation and long-term growth of Ontario’s arts and culture sector,” says Mr. Cho.
James Temerty says the foundation’s commitment emphasizes the importance of cultural institutions in a changing world.
“A future filled with change calls for a strong cultural infrastructure,” he says. “Institutions like ROM will be more important than ever in bringing people together and championing curiosity, learning and innovation, and we are delighted to play a role in making the museum more accessible and engaging for all.”
Louise Temerty adds that the gift was driven by “our strong belief in the power of these shared experiences to shape and inspire Canadian society, now and for generations to come.”
Janice Price, president and CEO of the ROM Foundation, says the Temerty Foundation has once again confirmed its legacy as a visionary force for civic progress.
The Temerty Community Access and Engagement Fund marks a significant step forward in ROM’s ongoing commitment to accessibility and community engagement, ensuring that its vast collections and enriching experiences are available to a wider and more diverse audience.
The museum anticipates that the enhanced programming and increased access will further solidify its position as a vital cultural cornerstone in Ontario.
James and Louise Temerty’s total philanthropic giving is approaching $400 million, with landmark gifts to the University of Toronto, the Royal Ontario Museum, JDRF, NOSM University, and a range of medical, educational, cultural, and community institutions, making them leading figures in Canadian and international philanthropy.