Hello everyone,

We are getting close to the end of the year – and there is still one more exhibition being launched before we get there. Casa Susanna, currently being installed on the main floor, opens on December 23 and features photographs from the mid-1950s to the late 1960s created by a network of crossdressers who found refuge in the Catskills region of New York State. 250 images – the vast majority from our collection – provide insight into this period, as well as its connection to the lives of trans and crossdressing people today.

The volume of installations these past few months has been incredibly high and tremendously successful – thank you to all teams involved in creating such beautifully installed exhibits for our public. I know that thousands of people will be enjoying the AGO over the next several weeks. Bringing art and people together is what we do so well. Thank you all!

Take care and best holiday wishes to all,

Stephan

It’s true we’re almost never closed! Please find our updated December hours, below:

DECEMBER 24      10:30 AM – 4:00 PM
DECEMBER 25       CLOSED
DECEMBER 26      10:30 AM – 4:00 PM
DECEMBER 27      10:30 AM – 9:00 PM
DECEMBER 28      10:30 AM – 5:00 PM
DECEMBER 29      10:30 AM – 9:00 PM
DECEMBER 30      10:30 AM – 5:30 PM
DECEMBER 31      10:30 AM – 4:00 PM
JANUARY 1            10:30 AM – 4:00 PM

Many of our staff will be taking a holiday break – but before we’re off, we thank you all so much for a wonderful year, and a special thank you to those volunteers that are joining us through the holiday season!

Dear Volunteers, 

On behalf of Volunteer Resources and staff working with volunteers across the building, we are writing to wish you a Happy and safe holiday season! It’s because of your generous support and all the volunteer work you do, that the Gallery is thriving; whether you’re greeting visitors, sharing your knowledge of art and exhibitions, helping folks getting where they need to go, shelving books … and more! We want to acknowledge all you do and look forward to the new year with exciting initiatives, community involvement and joint connections! The very best for a healthy and happy 2024! 

Barbara Glaser, Volunteer President & Holly Procktor, Coordinator, Volunteers

Hello everyone,

We are entering the holiday season after an incredibly busy few months, and I know many of you will be spending time with family and loved ones. I hope your breaks are restful and restorative. To those who will be onsite welcoming our public during this busy period – thank you.

It has been a difficult time at the AGO and more broadly in the world, but I am sensing a lot of good will to move forward in a positive way. Please assume that folks have the best of intentions as we negotiate a complex global environment. And once again, continue to be kind.

Take care,

Stephan

In this week’s Foyer, a guide to the KAWS universe. Curious about KAWS’ figures expressive gestures (and lack of detail). Read all about it, HERE.

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!