When the internet first started, we couldn’t have imagined it would become such a vital part of our culture and daily lives. Museums once preserved our history, but with modern technology, they have started capturing our emotions, too. The selfie museum that opened in Calgary is a perfect example, arising as a response to the rapid growth of social media and the visual content culture it created. More on calgary-future.
What is this Whimsical Museum?
When we hear the word “museum,” we immediately picture a place that preserves history, its display cases filled with ancient artifacts, fossils, or items that tell us about the past. However, this selfie museum has nothing to do with what your imagination might generate. It is undoubtedly a museum, but not of history—it’s a museum of your selfies and emotions.
A “selfie” is a photograph one takes of oneself. Such photos soared in popularity with the advent of phones featuring front-facing cameras and the development of social media platforms, notably Instagram. In 2013, the word “selfie” was even recognized as the Word of the Year by Oxford Dictionaries.
The “Calgary Selfie Museum” is the first and only establishment of its kind to appear in Calgary, and its sole purpose is to entertain visitors. Here, you aren’t meant to study historical exhibits; instead, you become the main subject of your next Instagram post or your own future history. In other words, you are the star, and the installations are simply backdrops designed to highlight your awesome personality and inject life into your social media feeds.
The museum boasts over 25 installations that are regularly updated, giving you plenty of reasons to visit again. And during holidays like Halloween and Christmas, the space features its own festive atmosphere with corresponding themed exhibits.
Intrigued, but won’t be visiting Calgary anytime soon? Don’t fret; there are similar establishments in Ukraine, such as the “Museum of Photo Illusions” in Kyiv or the “Selfie Museum” in Lviv. While these places are definitely different—each adapted to the cultural characteristics of their regions and audiences—each is bound to charm you in its own way. Perhaps the owners of those museums were even inspired to create them after visiting the “Calgary Selfie Museum.”
Who Should Visit the “Calgary Selfie Museum”?
The “Calgary Selfie Museum” welcomes every visitor, whether you’re a full-time influencer constantly in front of the camera or someone who just learned what a “selfie” is yesterday. Whether you’re just looking for fun with friends or purposefully came to create superb content in the battle to increase followers and likes, the latter is 100% guaranteed.
The selfie museum is considered one of the most “Instagrammable” spots in the Calgary area. Social media users enthusiastically visit it to capture their next creative story. So don’t hesitate—grab your smartphone and go make some memories! And, of course, don’t forget to share them on social media.
You can also host events within these walls, such as a birthday party, a bachelorette party, or just a long-overdue get-together with friends. To do this, you need to book the location in advance, as this is a very popular spot among Calgarians and might be reserved by another group on your desired day.
What’s more, the staff are happy for you to bring your dog along for the photo shoot and assure visitors that entry for your four-legged friend is completely free, just as it is for children under 3. The general admission price is $15 for visitors of all ages.
Ultimately, a museum exhibition doesn’t always have to be historical. In the 21st century, the term can encompass something interactive—something that aims to pull us away from our devices, even if just for a minute.