“We’ve come back home!” says Betty Meyers, a long-time AGO Art Rental & Sales Group (AR&SG) volunteer. “Again!” she adds, laughing. Elizabeth Petrova, the Coordinator, nods agreement.
AR&SG has moved many times over the years, they explain: out to McCaul Street and back, around various locations within the AGO, out again (post-Transformation) to University Avenue, and now… back home.
We watched them move in. Their new location is practically opposite the Volunteer Lounge, in the old Visible Inuit Storage space.
One big gain in the move, say Elizabeth and Betty, is additional exposure – to AGO visitors, and to AGO staff, volunteers and facilities.
“We could continue to build our corporate business while on University Avenue, but we had very little walk-in traffic,” explains Elizabeth. “Now AGO visitors will have direct, immediate access to us, right inside the building.”
She adds, “The artists and galleries we work with are very happy about our renewed exposure to AGO visitors, so the move is good for our relationship with them as well.”
Betty points out that more visitors also means more opportunities for AR&SG volunteers to interact with people. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Elizabeth Petrova (L) & Betty Meyers with “Breaking Apart” by Rachel MacFarlane, courtesy Nicholas Metivier Gallery
Another result of being back in the AGO: greater, and easier, contact with AGO staff and volunteers.
Elizabeth was still knee-deep in boxes when Maia Sutnik, AGO photography curator, stopped for a chat. “We talked about photographers we both know, and gave each other some new contacts to explore.”
She smiles at the memory, and the pleasure of that conversation. “It’s so much easier now for all of us to interact with each other.”
Speaking of interaction… The welcome mat is also out for volunteers with other AGO groups. “Stop by and talk,” urges Elizabeth. “We’d love to show you what we have, and what we do.”