Moccasin-Making with the Manitobah Storyboot School
Learn the traditional art of moccasin-making with Anishinaabe artist Natalie Ortiz.
What's On 2025
Country Music Trivia
Test your knowledge of country music history, iconic artists, and classic hits in this fun and interactive trivia event on May 27.
Celebrating 30 Years: Community Day
Join us for our free Community Day on Sunday, May 11 in celebration of the opening of Rough & Ready.
Rough and Ready
Explore the history of the cowboy boot in this new exhibition. Now on view.
Art Wear
“What is art?” This question has sparked debate for centuries.
Exhibit A
Sleuth out the complex role of footwear in crime, policing, and the judiciary.
All About Shoes
Take a walk through the the fascinating history of footwear.
Media Room
Find our latest press releases and more information on media images and interview requests.
Follow Us @batashoemuseum
Thank you to everyone who came in full cowboy-style to our opening event last night, celebrating 30 years of the Bata Shoe Museum and the opening of our spring exhibition Rough & Ready 
Last night could not have been possible without our incredible partners!
Media: @blogto @curiocitytoronto @dailyhivetoronto @fashioncanada @nationalpost @nowtoronto @thekitca @thetorontostar
Performances: @sachaofficialmusic @joshtry @redskyperformance @spursnight
Photographers: @ryanemberley, @kennedypollard_
360 Video Booth: @av360photobooth
Videographer: @lilacmediagroup
Music: @jondaniels.fj
Art Installation: @whatdanieldrew
Bandana Design: @hayleyelsaesser
Drinks: @cowbellbrewing, @sipsapsucker
Catering: @foodudes @artefoods
AV: @rp.av
PR: @dmpublic
Exhibit Design: @thinkarc.ca
Exhibit Fabrication: @proxeventinc
Lighting Design: Glenn Davidson and Nick Davidson
Video Production: J. Gus Aguirre
Floral Design: @studio__rye
Electrical Solutions: Danik Electrical Construction Co.
Rough & Ready: A History of the Cowboy Boot is officially OPEN!
The story of the cowboy boot is steeped in history and legend and is neither simple nor straightforward. Since their invention in the late nineteenth century, cowboy boots have embodied contradiction. They have symbolized labor and leisure, freedom and domination, tradition and reinvention. Cowboy boots were born out of industrialization yet refined through expert craftsmanship, they have been used to both celebrate individualism and forge cultural cohesion. They were central to the closing of the West, yet endure as emblems of freedom and wide-open spaces. Over time, cowboy boots have signaled power and privilege as well as resistance and reclamation. Whether worn in the saddle, on screen, or in the streets, cowboy boots remain a cultural touchstone, embodying both tradition and transformation in a constantly changing world.
Don’t forget to join us this opening weekend on Sunday May 11 for our Spring Community Day! Saddle up for a day of wild Western-themed activities, performances, games, and self-guided hands-on cowboy crafts that will have you hollering “Yeehaw”. RSVP for your tickets on our website.
Funding provided by the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund a program of the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, administered by the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund Corporation.
Sponsored by: @blogto @curiocitytoronto @dailyhivetoronto @fashioncanada @thekitca @nationalpost @nowtoronto @thetorontostar
Celebrating 30 years today! 
Founded by Mrs. Sonja Bata, the Bata Shoe Museum first opened its doors on May 6th, 1995 with the mission to illuminate human history through footwear. A rare cultural gem, the Bata Shoe Museum began as a small personal collection that has since transformed into an internationally celebrated museum, caring for nearly 15,000 shoes and shoe-related artifacts spanning over 4,500 years. As we honour the legacy of our past, we also look to the future, affirming our commitment to education, preservation, and impactful storytelling through the lens of footwear. With an unwavering commitment to community, we look forward to celebrating with you and to creating new memories for decades to come.
Learn more about the Museum`s history by visiting our online timeline.
Funding provided by the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund a program of the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, administered by the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund Corporation.
Sponsored by: @blogto @curiocitytoronto @dailyhivetoronto @fashioncanada @thekitca @nationalpost @nowtoronto @thetorontostar
To celebrate our upcoming exhibition, we invite you to join us for a day of free family fun that honours both our 30-year milestone as well as the opening of Rough and Ready: A History of the Cowboy Boot on Sunday May 11. Saddle up for a day of wild Western-themed activities, performances, games, and self-guided hands-on cowboy crafts that will have you hollering “Yeehaw”.
Test your knowledge of country music history, iconic artists, and classic hits in this fun and interactive trivia event celebrating our upcoming exhibition Rough and Ready: A History of the Cowboy Boot on Tuesday May 27! 
From legends like Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash to modern stars like Luke Bryan and Kacey Musgraves, challenge yourself and your friends to see who’s the ultimate country music fan. Yeehaw!
Rough & Ready: A History of the Cowboy Boot opens on May 7!
Funding provided by the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund a program of the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, administered by the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund Corporation.Sponsored by: @blogto @curiocitytoronto @dailyhivetoronto @fashioncanada @thekitca @nationalpost @nowtoronto @thetorontostar
@storybootschool returns with @manitobah! 
Learn the traditional art of moccasin-making with Anishinaabe artist Natalie Ortiz (@natymocs) in this three-part workshop (starting Saturday, May 31) designed to teach hand-sewing leatherwork and beading techniques.
Visit our website for more information 
NEW EXHIBITION
Rough & Ready: A History of the Cowboy Boot opens on May 7, 2025!
The story of the cowboy boot is steeped in history and legend and is neither simple nor straightforward. Since their invention in the late nineteenth century, cowboy boots have embodied contradiction. They have symbolized labor and leisure, freedom and domination, tradition and reinvention. Cowboy boots were born out of industrialization yet refined through expert craftsmanship, they have been used to both celebrate individualism and forge cultural cohesion. They were central to the closing of the West, yet endure as emblems of freedom and wide-open spaces. Over time, cowboy boots have signaled power and privilege as well as resistance and reclamation. Whether worn in the saddle, on screen, or in the streets, cowboy boots remain a cultural touchstone, embodying both tradition and transformation in a constantly changing world.
This exhibition has been financially assisted by the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund a program of the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, administered by the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund Corporation.
Sponsored by: @blogto @curiocitytoronto @dailyhivetoronto @fashioncanada @thekitca @nationalpost @nowtoronto @thetorontostar
This Sunday we`ll be celebrating Earth Day at the BSM! 
Join us on Sunday, April 13 for fun and eco-friendly activities for all ages! Discover how footwear impacts the environment in our engaging Footwear and the Environment presentations, exploring sustainable practices and innovative designs shaping the future of shoes.
Pictured: Mushroom leather has recently emerged as a viable material for shoemaking. This pair of sneakers by Nat-2 was made using “leather” created out of the middle layer of the tinder sponge, Fomes Fomentarius, which grows on dead or weak birch and beech trees. The natural variations of colour, tone, and texture allow the material to look andfeel like real leather.
Nat-2 Fungi, 2021
Join us for an inspiring evening on Tuesday, April 29 with Joseph Sagaj, Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) of the Sturgeon Clan, as he shares his remarkable journey as an Indigenous artist. Growing up in Neskantaga, a remote community of just 300 people located 433 km northeast of Thunder Bay, Joseph’s creative foundation was shaped by moments like making moccasins with his mother. RSVP on our website now.
