A Message from Education & Public Programming: A Renewed Vision for Toronto Now

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A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EDUCATION & PUBLIC PROGRAMMING

Dear Colleagues,

What is happening?

  • One of the objectives outlined in our Strategic Plan is to create programs that give Toronto artists a platform and a voice.
  • In order to accomplish this, we have reviewed our existing Toronto Now program and have made changes that will expand and broaden its reach throughout the Gallery.
  • As a result, the Toronto Now exhibition program will be ending and Food & Beverage will be taking over the Young Gallery space.
  • In recognition of Robin and David Young’s continued generous support of the AGO and their strong commitment to making art accessible for everyone, their name will be moved to the Education Commons in the Weston Family Learning Centre (WFLC).

What is the new Toronto Now program?

There are three distinct elements of the new Toronto Now program:

  • Artist in Residence Program:
    • Toronto artists will make up four of the six annual artist residencies. The remaining two will be Aimia/AGO Photography Prize nominees.
    • We will choose artists who are interested in public engagement and in creating projects that shift how we understand and engage communities with the AGO.
    • We will offer these artists an expanded playing field that includes the WFLC and all galleries and public spaces. Artists will be invited to consider many experimental strategies, including public programming, performance, interventions and pop-up exhibitions.
    • Each project will involve a partner AGO curator to help shape and shepherd the project.
    • This new model will begin in September with Diane Borsato’s residency.
  • Interpretation and Communication:
    • We are creating a strategy and program that highlights and celebrates all of the Toronto artists on display at the AGO at any given time. For example, we are looking at adding special labeling that identifies the artist as being from Toronto
  • Toronto Artists on Art:
    • As part of the AGO’s new 1st Thursdays program, talks, performances and interventions in the galleries by Toronto artists will continue to be a highlight of the program.
    • The October 1st Thursday will specifically celebrate Toronto artists with free admission and a complimentary drink for all artists who RSVP for the event.
  • Since our reopening, there has been an extensive commitment to the work of local artists through acquisitions and exhibitions of all sizes.  We will continue to build on this dynamic program that has included exhibitions by Toronto artists such as Kim Adams, Michael Snow, Sorel Etrog, Evan Penny, Ed Burtynsky and Max Dean, among others.

Why are we doing this?

  • As we continue to implement our Strategic Plan, we are looking for opportunities to increase our advocacy on behalf of Toronto artists, while providing our visitors with high-quality, accessible and compelling experiences that will grow our audiences and meet our artistic goals.
  • We specifically committed to increase the profile of Toronto artists throughout the Gallery through exhibitions, collection displays, interventions, performance and programming.
  • When Toronto Now was launched in the Young Gallery in March 2010, the project was conceived, in part, in response to community feedback that the AGO needed to become more accessible for visitors and take a more assertive role in raising the profile of artists in our community.  There was also a desire to establish a more meaningful relationship with local artists.
  • Since the Young Gallery was “before” gate, admission to the Young Gallery has always been free by going through FRANK.
  • Given that it has been in place for three years and given the renewed commitment to Toronto artists in our Strategic Plan, it was time to review how the program has performed against our goals. We found that the program has not met expectations.
  • Other than our opening night parties, which have been very popular, visitors have not been attracted to the space and it is most often found empty.  We don’t believe that this is a reflection on the artists or their work.  We believe that the space wasn’t right for what we wanted to accomplish – the Young Gallery is physically separate from the rest of the Gallery, and visitors did not make the connection that there was art to be found next to our restaurant.

What was Toronto Now before this change?

  • The Young Gallery, located at the northeast corner of the building next to FRANK, was a small streetfront exhibition space that featured work by a changing roster of Toronto artists (four to six per year).
  • The series had focused on local practitioners, with the potential for guest appearances by artists who weren’t from Toronto, but who had a special connection to the city.
  • Every two to four months, a different artist took over the space, allowing visitors to see a changing schedule of new projects that were free-of-charge, since the space is situated pre-gate.

Since Toronto Now was free for all visitors, how will visitors have free access to Toronto artists when their work will be located in the galleries?

  • We are committed to making the AGO an accessible destination and resource for all:
    • We offer Free Wednesday evening access to our collection galleries for everyone
    • Free After Three (Tuesday-Friday) – our collection galleries are free for all secondary school students
    • Our community access programs break down any barriers preventing individuals from visiting the AGO by providing free access.
    • Our First Thursdays feature Toronto artists and evening access to our galleries, and at $12 a ticket, it is an affordable option for visitors.

 Why not just move the program to another gallery – like the community gallery – to get more traffic?

  • We believe that the best way to raise the profile of our Toronto artists is to integrate them into our collection galleries where most of our visitor traffic is.
  • We will be able to use the Community Gallery in the Weston Family Learning Centre for some Toronto Now projects, but we want to have as much flexibility as possible to implement this new program in response to artists’ interests and ideas.
  • We already have numerous Toronto artist exhibitions in play and in planning throughout the galleries. This project invites artists into the institution in a new experimental and expanded way.

Sincerely,

Kelly