The last cyclorama in Canada has been hidden from public view since it closed in 2018, but a small group of people are hoping to revive the unique Quebec-based attraction.

The Cyclorama of Jerusalem 害羞草研究所� a 360-degree painting 14 metres high by 110 metres around 害羞草研究所� has sat across the street from the renowned basilica in Ste-Anne-de-Beaupr茅, northeast of Quebec City, since 1895. The panorama depicts what the city of Jerusalem may have looked like at the time of the Crucifixion of Jesus.

But the fate of the attraction has followed the waning interest in religion among Quebecers, and in 2018 the local family that owns the site closed it because it was unprofitable and needed repair. Attempts to sell it were unsuccessful. But the following year, the Quebec government declared the cyclorama a heritage property.

Ste-Anne-de-Beaupr茅 resident Annie L茅vesque is among a group of volunteers working to find a way to have the massive panoramic painting opened to the public once more.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 the only cyclorama left in Canada, so I strongly hope that the different stakeholders realize the importance of safeguarding and ensuring the continuity of a site like this,害羞草研究所� L茅vesque said.

Pierre Blouin, whose family has owned and operated the religious attraction since 1949, still hopes to sell the property. He penned a lengthy piece in Reader害羞草研究所檚 Digest this summer seeking new blood to run the once-popular landmark.

L茅vesque, a local gallery owner, was recruited by the Blouin family because of her background in cultural development. A reopened site would be more attractive to potential buyers, she said, adding that she is helping the family hunt for an agent.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 difficult to sell a company when it害羞草研究所檚 closed,害羞草研究所� L茅vesque said.

J茅r茅mie Germain害羞草研究所檚 involvement in the group was by happenstance. While visiting an art gallery owned by L茅vesque in 2021, he noticed the cyclorama through the window but had no idea what it was.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a magnificent piece of art, you know, truly I was astonished that 害羞草研究所� this thing was sitting there in the dark, so to speak,害羞草研究所� said Germain, who has a background in e-commerce and computer science.

After chatting with L茅vesque about the religious artwork he joined her group, which consists of a few dozen people from different walks of life 害羞草研究所� professionals, lawyers, historians and enthusiasts 害羞草研究所� all committed to reopening it.

The artwork is in good condition and has been visited by historians and experts in recent years. The group reopened the gift shop in Easter 2022 to sell some of its wares to fund needed repairs. There害羞草研究所檚 no firm timetable for reopening, L茅vesque said.

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The cyclorama was given heritage status in August 2019 in an effort to protect its artistic, historic and architectural value.

Quebec害羞草研究所檚 heritage directory says the painting is the work of Oliver Dennett Grover and Charles Abel Corwin, assisted by others, and produced around 1887 or 1888 in the United States. It was then put on display in Montreal until 1895, when it was sold and moved by boat to Quebec City. The design was inspired by a panorama painted by German artist Bruno Piglhein, which served as a model for a number of panoramic works with the similar Crucifixion scenario.

Quebec害羞草研究所檚 Culture Department obtained a court order in March 2022 for emergency roof work that was completed in February after the owners were unable to pay.

害羞草研究所淭he (Department) intervened in an exceptional manner to allow urgent consolidation work to be carried out on the roof, which had to be done to ensure the integrity of the classified property,害羞草研究所� the culture department said in a statement. The government took out a mortgage that the owners will be responsible for reimbursing.

L茅vesque and Germain害羞草研究所檚 group is trying to find ways to drum up interest in the artwork and make it more appealing to newer generations. Germain said people today may not appreciate the sheer size of the cyclorama, whose gallery offers a wide view of the painted landscape and countryside.

害羞草研究所淭here are only a handful of those in the whole world. It kind of serves as a predecessor to movies in a way because it was supposed to tell a moving story or a grand picture,害羞草研究所� Germain said. 害羞草研究所淪o it害羞草研究所檚 something that isn害羞草研究所檛 done anymore.害羞草研究所�

Germain said the Blouin family believes the project needs a new vision to shine in the 21st century. That could include elements like 3D technology, virtual reality or other ways to make the historic piece more interactive, he added.

害羞草研究所淭he painting will always remain the primary attraction here, but we want to enhance it in a way that could not have been envisioned by the artists who painted the piece so many decades ago,害羞草研究所� Germain said.

害羞草研究所淪o everything that we do today and everything we do in the future is to build toward that goal of reopening and sharing it with the world.害羞草研究所�

Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press