Weekly Message from Our Director and CEO, Stephan Jost

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Hello everyone,

  • Nearly 4,000 guests were here on Wednesday evening, many for the Rebecca Belmore exhibition opening. Thank you to everyone who worked hard on this incredible install on the heels of the J.S. McLean Centre for Indigenous & Canadian Art construction and reinstallation. The amount of work accomplished in the last several months, in spite of many complexities, is extraordinary. YOU made it happen. Thank you.

 

  • We have received some great press in recent weeks. This Sunday’s New York Times features an in-depth article that presents the AGO as leading a complex global conversation from Toronto. It is a long, positive article focussing on our work. Additionally, Kitty Scott has just opened the Liverpool Biennial, covered by The Times in London. Kitty has used this as an opportunity to bring several Canadian artists to the world stage, including Brian Jungen and Annie Pootoogook.

 

  • I am pleased to share the dates for the first event organized by our internal diversity & inclusion group, which has a great name – the IDEA Group! It stands for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility. This learning event is to open up conversation through the amazing collection, in the newly installed J.S. McLean Centre for Indigenous & Canadian Art. It will feature an opening with land acknowledgement, talks by curators, interpretive planners and educators, time for Q&A, with light refreshments in Walker Court. Please save the dates: July 30 from 11am-12:30pm or July 31 from 5-6:30pm. Stay tuned for more details.

 

  • If you haven’t completed the annual staff engagement survey, there’s still time! Please take a few moments today or tomorrow to do so – the deadline is midnight on Sunday, July 15. We’re closing in on our participation goal of 80% – let’s be sure to get there. www.agoemployeesurvey.ca

 

Enjoy the weekend,

Stephan

P.S. – Spread the word about This Party Loves You, a free all-ages art party taking place tomorrow in the Dr. Anne Tanenbaum Gallery School from 8-11 pm, completely programmed by the AGO Youth Council. It will feature local musicians Just John, Eyeda Sophia and Tyriqueordie as well as the unveiling of the new Youth Council project created in collaboration with local artist Ani Castillo.