Human rights museum opens to public for 1st time today

The first members of the public will get a look inside the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg this weekend, but tours are restricted to 9,000 people who secured preview tickets.

• TIMELINE|Canadian Museum for Human Rights
• PHOTOS |A look inside the museum
• INTERACTIVE |Video tours of4of the museum's galleries
• Live updates from CBC reporters at the grand opening
• Canadian Museum for Human Rights: time-lapse and sunset

The museum is giving "sneak peek" public preview tours on Saturday and Sunday of just four galleries, as not all of the museum's 11 galleries are close to being complete.

This weekend's tours are restricted to those who have received tickets.

An overwhelming response to the museum's offer of free preview tickets crashed the museum's website earlier this month, as staff received requests for upward of 30,000 tickets.

• Thousands try but fail to get free tickets to human rights museum
• Free ticket searchers crash human rights museum website

Officials said the museum could accommodate only 9,000 people throughout the course of this weekend.

The museum will fully open to the public on Sept. 27.

Prior to this weekend's tours, the museum's exhibits were seen only by private tours, dignitaries and the media.

RightsFest runs all weekend

Those who didn't get tour tickets can still celebrate the museum's grand opening by attending RightsFest, a weekend of live music, art and more at The Forks.

• View the RightsFest schedule here

Some top musical talent from across Canada will perform at a free concert Saturday evening called the Canadian Museum for Human Rights Concert.

Bruce Cockburn, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Ashley MacIsaac, Marie-Pierre Arthur and Shad are headlining the concert. Admission is free and the show begins at 6:30 p.m. at The Forks.

One group who won't be at Saturday's concert is A Tribe Called Red. The DJ group cancelled its appearance, citing concerns its members have about the museum's representation of aboriginal issues.

First impressions

A handful of people checked out the museum following the official opening ceremony on Friday, and many reported having good first impressions.

Wilton Littlechild, a commissioner with the national Truth and Reconciliation Commission, brought his 14-year-old grandson with him on a tour.

"I think this is about them, it's about their future," Littlechild said.

"I think that if we can change attitudes today, then it translates into a better future for them as adults, as they grow up."

Gail Lord, one of the museum's planners, said it's amazing to see the museum come together.

"I think it's beyond everyone's expectations," she said.

"How the building and the exhibits work together is amazing. The sophistication of the building is extrordinary. I think it will be known as the best museum building of the 21st century."