Across the AGO, we want spaces where everyone feels welcome – and that includes washrooms. Last fall, signage on select washrooms was changed to introduce Everyone Washrooms.  

Since then, we have learned that making washrooms that are inclusive for everyone involves more than changing the signs on the door. Establishing Everyone Washrooms involves significant renovation to change the equipment inside them.  

We heard from AGO staff and volunteers and our visitors that there is support for Everyone Washrooms, but more work needs to be done to update facilities – including removing urinals and having longer stall doors. 

At this moment, the AGO isn’t able to retrofit washrooms to meet these needs. Our goal remains that everyone who visits the AGO has a washroom option that they feel comfortable with. To achieve that, signage on two Everyone Washrooms (concourse level and Gallery 225) will be updated to gendered washroom options. What’s consistent is that everyone will have a washroom option they are comfortable with.  

Everyone Washrooms are located: 

• Concourse: next to Gallery 021 

Single Stall and Accessible Washrooms are located: 

• Concourse Level: The Annex (family washroom). Note these washrooms will close Spring 2024 as the AGO begins work for the Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery expansion.  
• Level 1 (Gallery 110) 

All other washrooms are gendered. 

Q&A 

Q1. Why is the AGO changing how it labels its washrooms?  

• Across the AGO, we want to make washrooms that are inclusive for everyone. In the past year, we have learned that making washrooms that are inclusive for everyone involves more than changing the signs on the door. Establishing inclusive washrooms involves significant renovation to change the equipment inside them. While the AGO explores the cost and feasibility of removing urinals and adjusting stall doors to retrofit gendered washrooms into Everyone washrooms, most washrooms have returned to how they were purpose-built.  

Q2. Why are there still Everyone washrooms in the museum? 

• Across the AGO, we want spaces where everyone feels welcome – and that includes washrooms. 

Q3. Why isn’t there an Everyone Washroom on each floor? 

• Most of the washrooms in the AGO were built as gendered washrooms. In the past year, we have learned that making washrooms that are inclusive for everyone involves more than changing the signs on the door. Establishing inclusive washrooms involves significant renovation to change the equipment inside them. AGO is exploring the cost and feasibility of removing urinals and adjusting stall doors to retrofit gendered washrooms into Everyone Washrooms. Until we can make those changes, Everyone Washrooms are available on the Concourse level (next to Gallery 021) and single-stall washrooms are available on the Concourse Level (The Annex family washroom) and Level 1 (Gallery 110). 

Q4. When will the AGO be retrofitting the washrooms to make more Everyone Washrooms? 

• Washrooms in the soon-to-be-built Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery will be purpose-built Everyone Washrooms. Until then, the AGO is exploring the cost and feasibility of removing urinals and adjusting stall doors to retrofit gendered washrooms into Everyone washrooms. We do not have an estimated date for that work. 

Q5. Where can I find changing tables? 

• A changing table is located in every AGO washroom. 

Q6. Where can visitors feed their baby? 

• Visitors are welcome to nurse their baby in any of the Gallery’s seating areas. Walker Court on our main level and Galleria Italia on the second floor both have comfortable seats and benches. For more privacy or quiet space, there is seating along the windows overlooking the Gallery school in the Weston Family Learning Centre or in the foyer just outside the Everyone washrooms.  

Questions? 

• Reach out to Trish Popkin, Associate Director, Visitor Welcome, at [email protected]  

As we prepare for a new year, the Exhibitions team is happy to share an updated 2024 exhibition schedule.    

Below is a summary of significant updates as of Friday, December 8, 2023:

Sarindar Dhaliwal: When I grow up I want to be a namer of paint colours (Lind and Mulvihill Galleries) will be extended until July 14, 2024.  

Her Space (McLaughlin Gallery) will be extended into the summer of 2024, though some artworks will be briefly removed between February 1 and February 16 for some small gallery renovations.   

Kazuo Nakamura: Blue Dimension was planned for presentation in McLaughlin, but will move to Bovey Gallery, and open on January 27, 2024.

Lucy Qinnuayuak was planned for Bovey Gallery, but will move to McLaughlin Gallery, and open in the summer of 2024. Precise dates pending.  

With Wanda’s departure, Sovereign Stitches and Wild Weaves (Level 5) has been cancelled.    

Works from the AGO Contemporary Collection will be presented on Level 5 and will run from June to October 2024. Precise dates pending.  

Faye Heavyshield (Lind Gallery) is now planned for August 2024. Precise dates pending.   

Jayce Salloum (planned for Lind Galleries) has been postponed.  

A reminder, the exhibition schedule is confidential, and dates are subject to change.

Hello everyone,

The other day, Dr. Julie Crooks took me through the installation of Life Between Islands: Caribbean-British Art 1950s-Now. Julie and others worked closely with curators and colleagues from Tate Britain to achieve a celebratory exhibition of extraordinary quality and depth. There was a Curators’ Circle event on Wednesday and tonight is our public opening, featuring DJ Jazzie B. In addition to paintings, film, and sculpture, the exhibit features Michael McMillan’s The Front Room: Inna Toronto/6ix, which explores the ways that migrants expressed being Caribbean and becoming Canadian through the material things in their homes. Michael spoke about this on CBC – you can listen here.

Congratulations to Julie, Emilie Croning (Curatorial Assistant, Arts of Global Africa & the Diaspora), the Exhibitions, E&P, CAB, and Visitor Experience teams, and everyone else who is contributing to a successful opening week.

Take care,

Stephan

Over the past week, there has been an intense discussion in the cultural community about freedom of political thought, artistic expression, and the importance of good governance. These are indeed very important issues, as together they shape our cultural narrative and our views of history. The AGO is also aware that there are several letters and social media posts in circulation speculating about internal conversations at the Gallery related to this debate.

I hear you. I am taking this seriously and I know there will need to be a rebuilding of trust. I recognize there is much work to be done with open, honest, and brave conversations.

Staff and the Board are taking these issues very seriously to figure out a path forward. The AGO is an art museum dedicated to art, learning and serving our public. The events of the last several weeks have shaken us individually and institutionally. We are taking the time to deeply review and reflect on our commitments to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report so we can continue our efforts.

The AGO remains fundamentally and fully committed to showing, acquiring and programming Indigenous art, voices, and stories. Our support of Indigenous artists remains strong, and respectfully, we do not take this for granted. We understand that these relationships will take work to re-establish and can only go ahead collaboratively. We are also fully committed to reflecting the diverse communities in Toronto through our mission, our collections, and our exhibitions and programs.

More broadly, the AGO, along with many other cultural institutions, is being asked to better define the rights and limits of political and artistic expression in a locally diverse but globally complex environment. We will go through a process to listen, to understand multiple perspectives, and then together we will articulate our institutional position. This process has started internally, and we will also hear from the many stakeholders of the AGO, and, in addition, we will review some of our governance policies through a thoughtful and inclusive process. These efforts are happening now and will continue over the next number of months.

This journey will take time but it is foundational for our collective future. I appreciate your patience.

Sincerely,

Stephan

Do you have your eye on something in shopAGO? Looking to purchase your annual holiday cards and stocking stuffers? Members’ shopping days are coming up – shopping on these days provide additional discounts to AGO members, staff and volunteers:

• Members’ Shopping will run from Friday November 24^th – Sunday Dec 3^rd
• 20% off regular priced items, including jewellery
• Haring product is excluded and will remain at the standard discount rate (15% for volunteer)
• KAWS product is also excluded from all discounts

Make sure to show your volunteer ID badge when shopping to secure your discount.

Happy Holidays!

We are thrilled to announce our next Volunteer President, Barbara Glaser.

Barbara comes to us from the Print & Drawings volunteer team, where she’s been ensuring a rich and memorable experience for visitors in close-looking opportunities in the Marvin Gelber Print & Drawing Study Centre, as part of the Open Door program. An AGO volunteer since 2010, and former Volunteer Council member for 2 terms, (years apart), she has a nuanced understanding of the staff-volunteer relationship at the Gallery, and a commitment to collaboration. She is passionate about bringing our volunteers together, through enrichment, social opportunities, and online projects (such as the volunteer recipe exchange, a pandemic project she spearheaded along with Veronica Ha, a fellow Council member).

Barbara is a creative thinker, with a professional background in design, art direction, and community organizing. She has years of experience fostering connection, volunteer recognition and appreciation. We look forward to working with her as your next Volunteer President.

More to come!

Holly Procktor, Coordinator, Volunteers

Alain Graham, Chief, People

We were so sorry to hear of the recent passing of Martin Hirschberg, long time AGO Gallery Guide. Martin had not been in since the pandemic, and had declining health of late, but we were happy to keep in touch via email.

Martin really loved being a part of our community. He was excited for his latest show to open, and I enjoyed seeing his art across the city (he always included me on his invites).

It was wonderful to meet Martin’s wife Marion, a few years back, when Martin got her volunteering with us a few years ago, in a temporary role as an animateur with the Yayoi Kusama exhibition (often dressed to match the show – polka dots forever!)  I loved seeing the two of them together – so joyous and positive, their banter back and forth about art and ideas. Marion was as stylish and artistic as Martin in her own way, and you could see they were a real match made. They knew how to live and to love.

My condolences to everyone who is feeling this loss; I will miss our sprite an engaging conversations over art & life,   – Holly Procktor (Volunteer Resources)

He was a lovely warm man who was very generous in sharing his knowledge as a practicing artist to those of us who aren’t – fellow volunteer

HIRSCHBERG, MARTIN On Thursday, November 16, 2023. Martin Hirschberg, beloved husband of the late Marion. Loving father and father-in-law of Sheri Hirschberg and Charles Karstadt, Cindy Hirschberg-Schon and Andrew Schon, and Staci and Rob Weingust. Dear brother of Beverley and Sid Linden. Devoted grandfather of Rachel and Michael, David and Shaina, Allison, Sam, Wynter, and Skye. At Benjamin’s Park Memorial Chapel, 2401 Steeles Avenue, West (3 lights west of Dufferin) for service on Sunday, November 19, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. Interment at Beth Tzedec Memorial Park. Memorial donations may be made to Jewish Family & Child Service (416) 638-7800 ext.6999, or the Koffler Centre of The Arts (koffler arts.org/Support-Us/Donate).

Published online November 19, 2023

Lovingly remembered

Thanks to everyone who attended our zoom call on the evening of Tuesday November 14, with Stephan Jost, and Alexa Greist. Alexa’s presentation, a sneek peek of what to expect when the exhibition opens in March 2024, is now available to watch from home, for those who missed it.

Click on this ZOOM LINK: https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/eAQ-FcnumjNWMaCC1ehTIZHRJ2QB4JqR-4ERx5D9dAm9nRxZvYju6p08ei0fTj78.7xvQQlvtarsmc4vB?startTime=1699998253000

You will be asked to enter PASSCODE to view, please enter: @W6ZqD1!

Alexa’s talk was offered in thanks and recognition of exhibition support, offered through this year’s Volunteer Endowment Trust Funds. Stephan Jost, joined us as well, and gave a bit of a “state of the union” – a report on how we’re doing, and a reminder of our goals, as we move forward with our plan towards “AGO 2028.” His presentation – full of stats and visuals – will be shared via email (PDF). Watch your inboxes for a copy, and reach out to Holly if you miss it.

Hello all, just a short note to let you all know that our planned Diversity & Inclusion training for volunteers has been postponed, due to circumstances beyond our control. We’re working on new dates, so hang tight. We will continue our learning! With thanks for your support, – Holly Procktor, Volunteer Resources

More to look forward to in this busy season of exhibitions! The recording of the exhibition launch for Life Between Islands: Caribbean-British Art, 1950s – Now is newly available to watch (exhibition opens on December 6).

To access the video, go to this link: https://artcloud.ago.ca/index.php/s/CmpnZpoassNCDGH

You will be prompted for a password to view. Please enter: Island@rtwork

This video features a number of AGO speakers, highlighting important preparations underway, and behind-the-scenes. For Life Between Islands, the exhibition team includes:

• Brittney Sproule, Project Manager, Exhibitions – introducing the exhibition and teams
• Gillian McIntyre, Interpretive Planner – big idea, visitor outcomes, interpretive strategies
• Julia Crooks, Curator, Arts of Global Africa and the Diaspora and Emile Croning, Curatorial Assistant, Arts of Global Africa and the Diaspora – exhibition overview, about featured artists, floorplan, and artworks
• Marilyn Bouma-Pyper, 2D Designer – exhibition design
• Kathleen McLean, Assistant Curator, Talk Programs and Screenings – education and programming for the exhibition
• Amy Wu, Marketing Coordinator- exhibition marketing plan
• Anastasia Hare, Senior Manager, Philanthropy – development and donor engagement

To read more, visit the exhibition webpage HERE.