(Bru-nO/Pixabay)
In August, I made an impromptu trip to Victoria with some friends. There are a few things in the city that are musts when I visit, like visiting the Empress, getting lunch at Fisherman’s Wharf, and seeing the Capitol. But my favorite part of the Victoria experience is the Royal BC Museum. What’s not to love? History, local ecology… Ok, maybe it’s not everyone’s thing. But you know what is? Music. Beyond the Beat: Music of Resistance and Change is the Royal BC’s newest exhibit, and i couldn’t be more excited to see it.
Before ascending the escalator to the showroom, there’s one piece of the exhibit located in the foyer, and the best part? It’s free to visit. Actually, scratch that. The best part is that it’s the John Lennon’s custom 1965 Rolls-Royce Phantom V! As a Beatles super-fanatic, this was probably the single coolest thing I’ve ever seen on display, so incredible that I dressed up in my “All You Need is Love” dress shirt for the occasion. I even filmed some content for Evolution’s social media about it, but the Museum never got back to me to give the go-ahead to use the footage. Bummer.
Anyways, once you’ve passed the automobile (and a small accompanying Beatles display), you climb the escalator to the show floor, where the exhibit really starts. Before walking into the display, you pick up a small, cardboard disc. This disc, when waved over scanners around the exhibit, activates a library of music related to each item. As the geniuses me and my friend are, we passed by the discs without a second thought, so a security guard provided some for us. There’s no shortage of interesting musical memorabilia on display, including various Elton John stage outfits and Neil Young’s harmonica, to name a few. Since the exhibit has been provided by the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, there’s a focus on Canadian artists, including Indigenous and French-Canadian musicians, as well as international talents who’ve used their music as a rallying cry, such as N.W.A. There’s even a mock-record store section featuring albums notable for their cultural impact, as well as a stage with a selection of instruments for a nice photo.
Beyond the Beat is a fascinating display. As someone who listens to a very small variety of music, specifically 60’s Rock the exhibit broadened my horizons a bit, while also catering to my own tastes. To be truthful, I can’t remember many of the artists we experienced by name, but that’s a me problem. That “me problem” in question is probably not isolated to… well, just me. Thousands, millions of artists have worked to shape our culture for the better, using music as a medium to incite real and lasting change. Remembering these artists keeps us informed on how our current cultural landscape came to be, and Beyond the Beat will act as an introduction to these talents for many. I’m planning a trip back to the Royal BC Museum this winter, as I’d like to absorb a lot more information the second time around. It won’t be around for long, though, as the exhibition closes its doors on January 6th, 2026, so plan your visit soon!
Written by Noah Schmidt
Contact: nschmidt20@my.bcit.ca