I am writing from New York City where I spent part of the week with the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) at the annual Director/Trustee Summit. In a turbulent time, these meetings provide perspective. We are all navigating uncertainties in the cultural sector.
We discussed topics such as resilience, strategic thinking, creative leadership, and effective communication of mission and values. I look forward to putting key takeaways into practice.
Art historian Emma Rutherford traces the history of English portrait miniatures at the AGO
Hello volunteers! Sharing notice of this upcoming free-with-admission (free to volunteers!) talk at the Gallery (Feb. 4) which I know will be of special interest to many of you! – read on, Holly
Highly sought after in Europe for nearly four hundred years, portrait miniatures were once deeply personal objects—small enough to be held in the hand or slipped into a pocket. Often exchanged as tokens of love or remembrance, these jewel-sized paintings carry emotional weight, capturing likenesses, relationships, and moments in time with delicate precision. Because of this, they sit at the intersection of fine art, jewellery, and reliquary objects within the arts market.
The AGO is home to nearly 100 English portrait miniatures in its Thomson Collection of European Art. Dating from the 16th to the 19th centuries, the works are displayed in a three-sided, jewel-box gallery on Level 1 in Gallery 110. Entering through a darkened doorway, visitors encounter a display of rare miniatures by artists such as Nicholas Hilliard and John Smart. Mostly painted in water-based pigments on vellum or ivory — along with some in oil on metal or wood panel — these works showcase masterful technique on an astonishingly small scale.
On Wednesday, February 4 at the AGO, art historian and portrait miniature specialist Emma Rutherford will present a talk exploring this remarkable collection of nearly one hundred English miniature paintings at the AGO. Through the lens of these intimate works, Rutherford traces the history of miniature painting and shows how they offer insight into artmaking, politics, and personal relationships across centuries. READ MORE in this week’s Foyer, linked HERE.
Hello Volunteers, with the recent winter storm closing the Gallery last Thursday (the only snow day I can remember in recent memory!), I wanted to post this timely reminder that volunteers can always call the AGO’s Emergency Hotline for updates. Save this number in your contact list!
AGO’s emergency phone number is (416) 977-5249
This emergency phone number will be updated if a decision is made that will affect the AGO’s hours or operations. If you are curious about whether or not the Gallery is open (during or after a big dump of snow!), natural disaster etc., please call the Gallery’s emergency phone number as your first point of reference. This line acts a central point of information for all staff and volunteers.
Should there be a change to AGO operations, the message will explicitly indicate that the building is closed due to weather conditions. Otherwise, the AGO will be open for business as usual.
Beginning Monday,January 26, the AGO Bistro will adjust its hours to better streamline operations while still meeting the needs of our visitors.
The AGO Bistro’s New Hours:
Tuesday: Lunch – 11:30 am to 2 pm.
Wednesday: Lunch – 11:30 am to 2 pm. Dinner – 5 pm to 7:30 pm.
Thursday: Lunch – 11:30 am to 2 pm.
Friday: Lunch -11:30 am to 2 pm. Dinner – 5 pm to 7:30 pm.
Saturday: Brunch -11:30 am to 2 pm.
Sunday: Brunch – 11:30 am to 2 pm.
What is the Difference Between the AGO Bistro, Espresso Bar and Members’ Lounge?
The AGO Bistro is the Gallery’s main “meal” destination, and these new hours better align with that guest experience.
Visitors looking for snacks and coffee between meals should be directed to the Espresso Bar in the Sculpture Atrium or the Members’ Lounge if they are a Member. The hours of these F&B outlets remain the same. For Espresso Bar hours, see here. For Members’ Lounge hours, see here.
Questions?
If staff have questions, please reach out to Anthony Bullock, Manager, Revenue, Outlets Operations and Service, at [email protected].
Keep reading below for important instructions on how to redeem your discount.
Registration Dates
STAFF registration opens on Wednesday, January 28, at 10 am.
This is the same registration period as the Members’ early registration period which runs from Wednesday, January 28, to Thursday, January 29.
Staff do not need to be members to register their children during the Members’ early registration period. When asked for your AGO membership during registration, you can click NO, and you will still be able to register for camp.
VOLUNTEER registration opens Friday, January 30, at 10 am.
Important Details
This discount applies to children of a current staff member or volunteer.
The discount is valid for up to two weeks of camp, per child, per summer
This means either one two-week camp or two one-week camps.
There is a maximum of four discounts per family per summer
Example: if you have four children, they can each receive this two-week discount per summer.
The discount applies to the Camp Fee and Extended Care Fee.
To receive the discount, you need to register and pay in full. The Contact Centre Team will then apply the 50% discount to the appropriate camp and refund the balance. Follow the registration instructions below.
Please allow up to 7 days for the refund to be processed
Additional camps for which the discount doesn’t apply may be booked at the Member price.
How to Register
Starting on Wednesday, January 28, at 10 am, staff can visit the Summer Art Camp page on ago.ca and follow the registration link.
Follow the process on AGO’s CampBrain registration site by creating a login and household and camper profiles (Pro tip: This step can be done before the on-sale date).
If you have created an account on AGO’s CampBrain website before, just log in to your account.
IMPORTANT: When selecting camps, select the Non-Member price for the camp and/or Extended Care you would like the discount applied to.
If you sign up the same child for more than two weeks of summer camp, please use the Members’ price for those additional camps and for Extended Care.
Once you’ve completed your registration and payment, email [email protected] and identify which child(ren) and camp(s) the 50% discount should be applied to.
The Contact Centre team will then apply the 50% discount to the appropriate camp and refund the balance.
Please allow up to 7 days for the refund to be processed
Questions?
If you have any questions, please call the Contact Centre at 416-979-6648.
Big winter storms and AGO closures are infrequent. I am grateful the weather has calmed in time for a special Friday night.
Tonight is the opening celebration for Ranbir Sidhu: No Limits. The event is free with admission, we look forward to welcoming many community members, and the Hamilton-based music lineup promises to create an atmosphere in Walker Court. I hope you get the chance to attend if you are in the area tonight.
Try to enjoy a safe and snowy weekend while the snow lasts.
Inge Pomp (née Ahlers) left this world on a date of her choosing – January 13th 2026 – one day before her 95th birthday. She passed peacefully accompanied by her son Alfons Pomp, daughter-in-law Rachel Chartrand and her two grandchildren: Audrey and Geneviève.
A wonderful mom, cook, an amazing crocheter and great lover of music, ballet and the arts; she held strong opinions which she was not shy to share. She had impeccable taste and kept her house meticulously. She travelled extensively in North America and Europe. She is among the last of a generation that knew the last world war (and sheltering from bombs) the space race and lunar landing, the cold war, perestroika, internet, smartphones, the information age and whatever history will call the current state of affairs.
She enjoyed preparing family and friends get togethers, swimming in the ocean and our lake but really loved snowstorms when her family were snug and safe in front of the fireplace. Over the years she bravely faced a series of progressive, significant health problems with bravery – but was saddened as one by one the important people in her life passed on.
At her request there will be no funeral nor celebration of life. (This tribute was kindly provided by her son, Alfons). Our thoughts are with him.
Inge was a beloved Wednesday daytime information guide – she joined us in 1998 and celebrated over 20 years of volunteer service before moving to be closer to her family outside Ontario. Always in our hearts.
The AGO is closed on Thursday, January 15, due to the weather. For updates, ccall the AGO’s emergency phone line at (416) 977-5249. The Gallery will reopen on Friday.
I thought it would be fun to share 10 things I am excited about in 2026. This list is in no particular order and very incomplete… I am sure if I wrote it again in 20 minutes it would be different!
Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm (opens February 18)
Continued work on the Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery (DRMCG)
Offering hard hat tours of the DRMCG to staff
The Impressionist Revolution: Monet to Matisse from the Dallas Museum of Art (opens June 24)
Art Journaling, Fridays, January 16 to February 6, 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm (4 weeks). Instructor: Sarah Mihara Creagen
Important Details
This discount applies to a current staff member, volunteer or someone in their immediate family.
The discount is valid only for the specific courses/dates/times listed above. Different courses will be offered seasonally 1-3 weeks before the start of class depending on availability.
Courses frequently sell out, so this offer is subject to availability.
How to Register
To register, please call the Contact Centre at 416-979-6648 so they can process your registration and payment with the 50% discount. Make sure to mention you are an AGO volunteer to receive the discount.
If you have any questions, please call the Contact Centre directly at 416-979-6648.
