Hello Everyone,

• So this week has been a bit of a good news/bad news kind of week. The bad news: Late last Thursday, we found out that the province has cut $500,000 in its 2017-2018 operating funding to the AGO (we receive $21 million/year). This is  an unwelcome surprise, particularly since we have already started our fiscal year. That said, I am confident Leadership Team and others can find a way to adjust. On Wednesday, the Board of Trustees approved the 2017-2018 budget, with the caveat that we solve for the reduction. Luckily, we had a very good 2016-2017 year so we have some options. I am having quiet conversations with provincial officials about next steps, so I ask you to keep this news low key.

• The good news: We also heard last week that the City has come forward with an additional $500,000 in capital funding to support Grange Park, which triggered a matching gift of $500,000 from a private donor. This means the Grange Park project is now fully funded – in fact, we’ve exceeded our fundraising goal of $12.5M and have raised $12.6M!

• Hurvin Anderson, whose work was featured in Hurvin Anderson: Backdrop last summer, is on the shortlist for the Turner Prize, announced yesterday. He was one of four artists nominated. The AGO show was cited in the announcement. The Turner Prize is the top contemporary art prize in the world!

• Check out Free Black North, a beautiful, tight show curated by Julie Crooks, our new assistant curator, Photography.  Make sure you spend time reading the labels, they are very informative.

• On Wednesday, a pedestrian was critically injured at the corner of Dundas and Beverley. Please everyone be mindful of traffic, look up from your phones and be careful as you navigate around the city. (Perhaps this is a bit of a note to myself to stop jaywalking!)

Enjoy the soggy weekend,

Stephan