The beat drops at the Royal BC Museum next week – and with it, decades of defiance, protest, and power.
Beyond the Beat: Music of Resistance and Change opens May 30 in Victoria, inviting visitors to experience music not just as entertainment, but as a force for social justice.
On loan from Winnipeg's Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the exhibition brings together artefacts, sounds, and stories from 112 artists who didn’t just make hits – they made history.
“We all know the melodies,” said Jodi Giesbrecht, vice president of research, collections, archives and exhibitions. “But when you really dive into the lyrics and the context, you start to uncover these incredible stories that have shaped movements and challenged the status quo.”
It’s that deeper layer that drives the show. From Chuck D’s Public Enemy jacket to Neil Young’s harmonica and performance outfits worn by Elton John, the artefacts speak volumes. But they’re just the starting point.
John Lennon’s colourful 1965 Rolls-Royce Phantom V touring limousine will also return to the museum.
Even Canadian icons get reintroduced through a new lens. Giesbrecht said she was surprised to learn about Rita MacNeil’s past as a radical feminist, and that the RCMP monitored her work during the 1970s.
“That’s something a lot of people wouldn’t expect,” she said. “But it’s one of so many examples of artists who were doing more than just performing. They were standing up.”
The exhibition doesn’t follow a timeline so much as it hits like a mixtape – loud, layered, and full of energy. Projected concert footage, listening stations, and interactive displays bring the music to life.
Visitors walk through decades of protest, from civil rights marches to the rise of hip-hop and the resurgence of Indigenous music.
One story that stood out for Giesbrecht was that of Paul Robeson, an African American singer and activist who was denied entry to Canada for political and racial reasons ahead of a show in 1952.
Instead of backing down, he performed from the U.S. side of Peace Arch Park while crowds gathered on the Canadian side to listen.
“It was a moment of solidarity that literally crossed borders,” she said. “And that’s the kind of power music holds. It can cut through barriers – geographic, political, cultural – and bring people together.”
While the exhibit features international names, it also taps into local roots.
The Royal BC Museum added content that highlights British Columbia’s own soundtrack of resistance, including a deep dive into Victoria’s punk scene.
Another section focuses on Indigenous resurgence – music that fuses traditional sounds with hard-hitting beats to tackle themes of identity, decolonization, and pride.
And then there are the moments that feel personal. Giesbrecht recalled the unboxing of Chuck D’s iconic collegiate jacket – which will be featured in the exhibit.
Chuck D’s iconic Public Enemy jacket was unveiled Wednesday morning at the @RoyalBCMuseum.
— Victoria News (@VictoriaNews) May 21, 2025
It will be featured in the museum's new exhibit, Beyond the Beat: Music of Resistance and Change, from May 30 until January 5.
Story to come. pic.x.com/cq1CJ1J83P
“That single object connects decades of struggle and expression,” she said. “It’s not just memorabilia – it’s a reminder of how music helps shape the world we live in.”
Beyond the Beat runs at the Royal BC Museum until January 5, 2026.
