Royal BC Museum buys IMAX Victoria theatre for $3.8M

The Royal BC Museum (RBCM) has landed itself…the big screen.

In a press release issued on Monday, the RBCM unveiled that it has purchased the IMAX Victoria theatre from Destination Cinema Inc. for approximately $3.8 million.

The money for the museum’s theatre acquisition was provided through a provincial government grant.

Despite switching owners, the Royal BC Museum says that the theatre experience will remain relatively unchanged, with viewers able to see both documentary features and Hollywood blockbusters.

The RBCM adds that staff members at the IMAX will remain on the job, but will transition to museum employees.

“This is an exciting step for the Royal BC Museum modernization,” Jack Lohman, Chief Executive Officer of RBCM said in a media release. “Bringing the IMAX Victoria into the Museum operation opens up more educational opportunities as we work to upgrade the museum.”

The purchase of IMAX Victoria theatre is part of the RBCM’s long-term modernization plan, which was developed with the B.C. Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture back in 2019.

Lohman adds that by purchasing the IMAX Victoria, the Royal BC Museum doesn’t have to worry about redevelopment challenges that could present itself from having a private lease agreement. This will eliminate future roadblocks if the museum opts to make changes to the property.

The IMAX Victoria theatre was added to the museum complex back in 1998.

As a result of COVID-19, the venue was forced to shut down amid the pandemic, but has since reopened with updated health and safety protocols.

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