“Passages is an interactive project that tells individual histories and illustrates how we all keep reminders of our past,” said Judy Daley, Supervisor/Curator Art Gallery and Education Services, PAMA. “We are hoping that by participating in the contest, people will share their own personal stories about how they are connected to Peel. Their stories will also complement the inaugural Passages exhibition, and the first phase of PAMA’s opening this fall.”

PAMA will have a booth at the Brampton Farmers’ Market on July 7 to promote the Passages story contest. The first 100 people to visit the booth will receive a special PAMA gift bag.

The Passages contest is open from July 7-Sept. 22, 2012. The public is invited to enter the contest by uploading a photo of an object or keepsake that holds significant or special meaning and sharing their story online. Passages can be accessed through PAMA’s website at pama.peelregion.ca. Complete instructions on how to upload photos and stories is online. A random draw will be held on Sept. 23, 2012 from all online submissions received during the contest dates. All submissions will be reviewed by PAMA staff to ensure that they conform to the project and contest guidelines.

Passages will be one of the first exhibitions in PAMA when it opens this fall. This photo-based exhibition, curated by Christine Boyanoski, brings together artists of varied cultural backgrounds that investigate personal and family history in their work. Artists include Sara Angelucci, Greg Staats, William Eakin, Donald Rance and Vid Ingelevics. Ingelevics has created a special installation based on the Russell Cooper 20th Century Photography Collection of the PAMA Archives.

The Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA) is making history this year through a $13-million restoration and construction project that commenced in 2010 to enhance the land and buildings that hold the Region of Peel’s museum, archives and art gallery. When PAMA re-opens in 2012 there will be expanded exhibition space and state-of-the art collection storage. PAMA will re-open in three stages, with the Art Gallery opening on Sept. 30, the grand opening on Nov. 24-25, and the Family Day and Archives opening on Feb. 18, 2013.

PAMA collects, preserves and displays art, artifacts and archival documents significant to Peel’s culture and heritage. Operated by the Region of Peel, PAMA is located at 9 Wellington St. E. in Brampton. Visit pama.peelregion.ca for more information.