Hemp has quietly supported human creativity and knowledge for centuries. Many of the world's great paintings were created on canvas woven from hemp fibre — a tradition reflected in the very word "canvas." Artists valued hemp for its strength and durability, qualities that have helped preserve their work across the ages.

Hemp paper, too, played an important role in recording and sharing ideas. More durable than many wood-based alternatives, it was used for books, documents and manuscripts. In this hall we celebrate hemp's contribution not only to industry and trade, but to art, learning and the preservation of human knowledge.