A place for AGO volunteers to share, learn, and connect
As part of Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery (DRMCG) construction, EllisDon will be removing the crane from the construction site on Monday, June 1, and Tuesday, June 2.
McCaul Street will be closed to vehicle and foot traffic from Dundas Street West to Grange Road starting on Sunday, May 31, from 11 pm until Tuesday, June 2, at 7 pm.
Staff and volunteers can continue to enter and exit the Gallery through the front entrance or through the South Entrance, with no disruption.
Hello Everyone,
Next week, the AGO is hosting museum directors from the top 40 largest museums in the world. The group will be in Toronto from Wednesday to Saturday and the program features a discussion with Margaret Atwood and a tour of the Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery led by architect Anabelle Selldorf, who is recognized globally for her work with museums – I mentioned last week that she will be undertaking the renovation of the Louvre in Paris.
It is a testament to each of you that the AGO was identified as the host of this gathering. The AGO is recognized as a leading global museum and the other museum directors are excited to learn more about the AGO and Canada. Thank you for all you do to make the AGO an extraordinary art museum.
Enjoy the weekend,
Stephan
Derived from the design of First Nations canoes, Makinaw boats were popular fishing vessels used in Odawa Mnis (Manitoulin Island) before the Second World War. From 1845 to 1939, these boats were built by five generations of Ojibwe, Odawa, and Pottawatomi (Anishnaabe) makers. Makinaw boats were used for long-line, bottom-net, and pond-net fishing, as well as for transporting people and goods across the lakes. Inheriting the flat bottom of its canoe predecessor and the innovation of a retractable rudder, this fishing vessel expertly navigated the shallow shores around the island.
Odawa artist Angus Trudeau (1908-1984) grew up watching Makinaw boats fill the North Channel of Manitoulin Island. In the later years of his life, he began creating detailed, hand-carved models of these boats, one of which has found its home at the AGO. Displayed on a mirrored plinth in gallery 230, Red Sailboat (around late 1970s – early 1980s) offers visitors a chance to take in the meticulous details of Trudeau’s rendering of Manitoulin history. Read more in this week’s Foyer, linked HERE.
Located on Level 1, Philip B. Lind Gallery, #131 and #132
Making his Canadian debut at the AGO, Diego Marcon’s cinematic vision draws on Hollywood musicals, horror films, melodrama, and slapstick, to present films both unsettling and tender. Incorporating CGI, prosthetics, and robotics, Marcon achieves an uncanny quality in his films: images that feel artificial, yet strangely alive.
At the centre of this installation is Marcon’s newest work, Krapfen (2025). Set in a bedroom, the film describes a child tormented by four characters — a pair of gloves, a foulard, a pair of trousers, and a pullover — who insist that the child should eat an apricot jam krapfen (or German doughnut). Part musical, part neurotic carousel, the objects hector the child as they swirl around, in a choreographed dance, set to music composed by Federico Chiari.
Hello Everyone,
On Victoria Day, before sunrise, I got a text. It was from the architect Annabelle Selldorf who has designed our Dani Reiss Modern & Contemporary expansion. She was sharing the good news that she and her team had just been awarded a massive project in France. Selldorf Architects has been hired by the Louvre in Paris to create a new entrance, and new galleries to safely showcase Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.
Pretty cool.
Stephan
Dear Volunteers,
As part of our visitor-facing teams, we wanted to ensure you are all aware of the changes happening in the Shop and Bistro in mid-June, and that you are equipped with information to answer to any questions or concerns that visitors might raise to you directly. As of Tuesday May 19, AGO members were made aware of these changes via direct email, and a public announcement is planned for Tuesday, May 26.
What is happening, in more detail:
This summer, the AGO is re-imagining its retail experience. As a result, both the Shop and Bistro will close temporarily as of June 22. The goal of this ambitious project is to update the visitor welcome and foster even more opportunities for creativity and connection.
The renovation is expected to be completed in late fall and we can’t wait to welcome visitors to our new Shop and Café. In the meantime, this renovation will impact museum operations temporarily.
Retail and Bistro Closure Timeline:
The retail refresh is expected to be completed in November 2026, in anticipation of the opening of the Dani Reiss Modern & Contemporary Gallery in 2027.
During this temporary closure, visitors, staff and volunteers will not be able to access either space until the Shop reopens. Although the Bistro is not being renovated, it will temporarily close during the refresh to accommodate the extensive renovation work being done in the Shop. It will reopen at the same time as the Shop.
This project is designed by B+H Architects and CHIL Interior Design, and made possible by the RBC Foundation Community Infrastructure Fund (CIF). This refresh will provide more creative ways for AGO visitors to connect, create, and explore while at the Gallery. Alongside adding new wood and glass fixtures, the Shop will be transformed to include additional seating, a dedicated maker space, a new coffee bar and access to public washrooms. Art prints, books, and Indigenous-designed products will be available for purchase by visitors, staff, and volunteers.
Alternatives to the Shop and Bistro During the Refresh
Retail
F&B
We want to thank you for your support during this time of renovation.
Other questions can be directed to Herman Lo, Senior Director, Visitor Experience & Commercial Enterprises at [email protected]
Hello Everyone,
I wanted to share two things that I really enjoyed this week.
The first was hearing stories of colleagues bumping into Blue Jay’s pitcher Dylan Cease in the galleries. He was a good sport and posed for a photo in one of our European galleries. I was not surprised to learn that the social media post by Lexie Buchanan is doing very well on Instagram and Facebook.
The second was continuing to take teams on hard hat tours of the Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery. This week, People team.
I hope you enjoy your long weekends!
Take care,
Stephan
Hello Everyone,
I am writing to let you know that Alain Graham has decided to leave his role as Chief, People. Alain has been an incredibly kind and strong leader. He leads from the heart. He truly cares about all our AGO colleagues, and I will miss him deeply. I know many of you will, too. He has been a touch point on a daily basis, checking in through personal interactions and measuring the pulse of our most precious resource – people – throughout the museum.
I appreciate his decision that he has made for himself and his family and wish him well.
In his 9-year tenure at the AGO, Alain has made many significant contributions. He has mentored and stewarded a new generation of HR professionals ensuring that knowledge is shared and continued among his diverse team, most of whom are new to the organization within the past 5 years. He has deftly navigated labour relations from a position of trust, professionalism, and respect. He has helped with the transition from outdated systems to more efficient technology. He has encouraged staff to adapt to the changes that have taken place over the past several years – both within and outside of the museum – embodied in our operational and strategic priorities. He has been a key member of the Joint Working Committee, which established new Values for the AGO. And he has been an important member of the Leadership Team, including through challenges such as the pandemic and development of the AGO Plan, which helped save jobs at the AGO. In both staff and volunteer relations, Alain always puts people first.
We will begin recruitment for the Chief, People role soon. I am grateful that Alain will stay involved as a consultant in the interim as we transition to new leadership. Erin Prendergast will continue to act as Interim People leader to provide LT support to the team.
Thank you, Alain.
Stephan
Hello Everyone,
This morning we hosted the Provincial Funding Announcement for the Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery. A major milestone!
The Province announced their commitment of $35M in capital funding over two years. This forms a significant public-private partnership between Ontario, Canada, Dani Reiss, and private donors. It is all about getting into alignment in support of the arts and long-term cultural infrastructure. Ministers Stan Cho (Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming), Caroline Mulroney (Minister of Francophone Affairs and President of the Treasury Board), and Peter Bethlenfalvy (Minister of Finance) were all present to speak to their support of the AGO.
Take care,
Stephan
Library & Archives will be closed from Monday, May 4, to Friday, May 8, for staff professional development. During this time, Library & Archives will be closed to the public and will re-open on Wednesday, May 13.
Questions?
Reach out to Library & Archives staff at [email protected].