I think that is safe to say that the past five and a half months have been nothing like any of us have ever experienced. It has been a time of tremendous uncertainty. There are lots of unknowns except for one thing – the pandemic is not yet over.
Since
March, most of you have been working at a reduced work week as part of the AGO
Plan, which was developed to keep the AGO labour force intact at the beginning
of the pandemic during this time of financial uncertainty. It was made up of
three parts: private donations; the Canada Wage Subsidy Program and other
government support; and a 25% pay reduction for AGO employees. Staff worked 75%
of their usual time (except for Leadership Team and critical staff) to achieve
this reduction. This plan is in effect until September 15. On September 16, the
AGO Plan will end and the employees on the plan will return to 100% of their
pay and work 100% of their schedule.
However,
as the AGO remains at Stage One of our re-opening plan, only those employees
who are required to serve our visitors and protect our building and art will
continue to work onsite after September 15. We anticipate staying in Stage One
for some time and do not have a date set for Stage Two. There are simply too
many unknowns.
This means that employees who don’t have to be onsite will continue to work
from home for the foreseeable future – I imagine for the remainder of 2020 and
possibly longer. We also don’t expect to restart our volunteer program for
quite some time. I know that this uncertainty is unsettling but we are doing
this to protect everyone’s health and safety.
What does this mean for next steps? Currently Leadership Team is working
on the following:
· Developing a working
remotely policy that will provide guidance for all of us as we navigate through
working remotely for some time to come.
· Looking at options for
flexible work hours, recognizing that some of us continue to have increased
responsibilities at home.
· Assessing employee
technology and office needs so that people can do their jobs more easily.
It is clear that the pandemic is having an
impact on our attendance and ability to generate revenue. The financial crisis
is very real. While we are doing our best to navigate challenges, we are facing
a period of prolonged uncertainty. Leadership Team and I are looking closely at
our operational needs for the next several months and I will continue to update
you regularly on the AGO’s position.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do
not hesitate to contact your Leadership Team member or manager.
Thank you for all the ways you are working to keep one another safe.
We’re ending this week on a glorious summer day. I hope everyone is making the most of summer. Last week, my family and I went on a quintessential Canadian road trip to Ottawa and then Quebec City. We visited the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa (and saw former staff member and current National Gallery Director, Dr. Sasha Suda) and also the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec in Quebec City – very interesting to have multiple national galleries of art in one country! Canada is rich in its complexities and relationships with culture. With the border still being closed, it was wonderful to explore both cities among other Canadian tourists. Here are some pics below from our travels. I will also be taking some vacation days next week with my family in Creemore, just north of the city.
It feels like a zen kind of day so I am sharing this article distributed through the Association of Art Museum Directors that includes advice from the Dalai Lama:
Hello Volunteers, We’re thrilled to be co-leading this Volunteer Connector Zoom call, focused on Mindfulness. We will start with discussion, a short meditation and a creative mindfulness exercise!
As part of the creative exercise, if you’d like to participate, please bring with you to our call:
A sketchbook, or 2 large pieces of paper, a journal or notebook
Something to draw with: a pen and coloured pencils, markers, pastels, or crayons
A magazine(s), scissors, and glue stick.
An open mind to come play with materials and have fun!
We’ll also provide a resource tip sheet for you all to take away on your mindfulness journey (this PDF will be sent via email). In these times we all need some mindfulness and meditation.
If
you can’t connect directly by clicking on this link, you have two options:
1) Open a
new browser window (i.e. open a new window in Chrome or Firefox or Safari, and
copy and paste the above link and press return
OR
2) Go to www.zoom.us,Select “Join a meeting”, enter
the Meeting ID: 961 4371
0048 and Password: 496700
If you can’t connect directly by clicking on this link, you have two options:
1) Open a new browser window (i.e. open a new window in Chrome or Firefox or Safari, and copy and paste the above link and press return OR 2) Go to www.zoom.us,Select “Join a meeting”, enter the Meeting ID: 961 4371 0048 and Password: 496700
We’ve collected some great questions and we’re looking forward to hearing Stephan’s updates and insights on this historic time in museums.
The AGO launched the monthly Seniors Social last November as a new way to engage with visitors. The in-person version included an hour-long themed tour followed by tea and coffee, then an art-making activity based on elements of the tour. (Read the AGO Insider story here.) When the gallery shut down in March, staff quickly figured out how to keep the program going remotely.
The digital version would include a 20 minute “conversational tour” video of abstract art with Art Educator Doris Purchase, a 20 minute art instruction video about abstract drawing with art instructor Lauren Renzetti, and a final 20 minute video where participants make art together and chat.
In addition to the art instruction video by Lauren, staff recorded two videos that recreated the live experience, featuring two AGO volunteers as “model” participants, Gavin O’Hara (Thursday GG) and Jennet Sandler (Wednesday GG).
Meeting with staff over Zoom, Gavin and Jennet discussed two artworks with Doris. On the second Zoom call, Laura led them through art making, using items they each had around their houses. The two calls were recorded and are now viewable along with the instructional video here. We asked Gavin and Jennet about their experience in helping create the videos.
Zoom call image of the conversational “tour” with Doris, Gavin and Jennet
How did you get involved?
Gavin: I’m a relative newbie as a Gallery Guide (I started with the Thursday crew in March 2019), so I try to stay open to activities which can help me develop as a Guide. When I saw the call out, I thought it could be fun and could possibly exercise some different “muscles” to that end so I threw my name in.
Jennet: I started volunteering at the AGO six years ago as an audio guide, then an info guide, and last year became a gallery guide. I volunteered for this project because I thought it would be interesting and fun to continue my education by participating in a guided discussion about artists and their art. I was also curious to about how exploring at an artist’s work could then be applied to creating my own piece.
What artworks did you discuss?
Jennet: The artworks were picked for us by Doris. We discussed two works. The first was Grey Circle by Kandinsky. This part of the recorded talk was more formal where we were asked specific questions about the painting, and directed by name as to when to answer a question. I think we were all getting used to how this online format would work. We took a little break between two art works as we were close to using up our Zoom time with the first session (some of that time was used to resolve tech issues).
For the second session we discussed Inner Structure by Nakamura. Before taping this session we decided to make it more informal. Gavin and I chimed in when we felt we had something to offer, rather than waiting to be selected to speak. This is a little risky on Zoom, but it worked because there were only two of us plus Doris, and we were respectful of sharing “talk” time. It also seems like we all were more enthusiastic about this piece.
Zoom call image of artmaking video led by Lauren
What was it like working online?
Gavin: Controlling the environment (lighting and ambient noise in particular) proved to be helpful. Just before we started doing one of the sessions, I think every one of our neighbours decided to crank up whatever power tools they had on hand. I had to race around and try to close all the windows in and near the room I was in to control the racket outside! My set-up here was to use the microphone / camera on my iMac. When I looked at the final product, I think I would have changed the set-up so that I would have been closer to the camera so that the four of us (Jennet, Doris, Lauren and I) were framed in a more consistent manner.
There was a greater need for sustained attention during the call than a “regular” Zoom call. For me, it helps if I can eliminate other distractions – find a quiet space, minimize any windows on screen that might draw my attention away from the video. Once I’ve established the framing with the camera, I normally turn off “self-view” in Zoom.
Jennet: If someone is not used to “zooming” they might need some guidelines for how things work. My Wednesday morning GG team has been participating in similar online meet-ups, once a week since mid-April. This helped me feel more comfortable with this format.
What about the experience surprised you?
Jennet: As a graduate of OCADU and someone who still takes the occasional studio class at TSA, I was surprised, in a good way, that I could make art at home and by myself, yet still enjoy the “classroom / studio” experience. It was stimulating to be in the company of other art makers, even if it was virtual and not actual.
Gavin: I’ve had experience in both training and in conducting or participating in meetings remotely via video-conference, so doing the session online felt natural. I was a little nervous about the creation of the piece in the second video. I haven’t done any work like that in many years and wasn’t sure if it would be up to the quality of the others. Perhaps that wasn’t a bad thing — it might give some of your participants confidence that they can do something better than that guy on the screen!
Art in process…
What do you think the reaction of viewers will be?
Gavin: I would be very interested to hear what the target audience thinks of it. When we get back to “normal”, it would also be great to sit in on a live Seniors Social and see how it compares to the virtual version.
What advice would you give to others taking part as volunteers and those doing art-related activities online generally?
Jennet: Do some preparation before the meeting starts. Think about where your camera is placed, what your background looks like, be familiar with the functions of the virtual format – both the audio and the visual. If supplies are required – have them ready ahead of time. Most importantly, if something goes wrong with the tech side – don’t worry about it and don’t feel intimidated. We are all figuring this out together.
Gavin: Make eye contact with the camera rather than the other participants. A little counter-intuitive, but you come across as more natural if you do that. There are a number of articles on the web on how to control the lighting to put your best face forward.
The final products!
What other ways have you stayed engaged during the pandemic lockdown (art-related or otherwise)?
Gavin: Staying close to or at home at the beginning of the lockdown was tough; I use Instagram as a photo sketchbook and noticed that I didn’t post much there in April and May. It was mostly watching a lot of content online (I’ve been trying to keep up with all the video material that the AGO has been posting!). Being able to get out was a welcome change and it felt like I was starting to notice things again. As we moved into June, my partner and I started to spend more time moving around the city and visiting places like the AGO (we’ve also been able to visit the Art Gallery of Hamilton and the Art Gallery of Guelph over the past couple of weeks). I’m also an avid cyclist. Despite this summer’s heat, I’ve been able to get out for a ride most mornings.
You’ll recall earlier this year (March 2020), the Volunteer Council conducted an online vote, allowing volunteers to choose a project to support with our Volunteer Endowment Trust funds (more details below). The Gallery’s closure due to co-vid 19 interrupted our vote. The pandemic has also altered the Gallery’s timelines, so we’ve updated our original funding options and we’re conducting our vote again. Please see below for a little history of the Trust and this year’s funding options. – Holly
The Volunteer Endowment Trust (VET) was established in 2001 with a Letter of Agreement between the AGO, The AGO Foundation and the Volunteers of the AGO. The original capital that created the fund continues to remain invested and, each year, an annual distribution of 4% of the fund (approx. $50,000) is made available in order to fund a project. The AGO Development team identifies 3 projects for consideration that reflect the gallery’s strategic priorities:
1. Art 2. Access 3. Learning
As part of the Volunteer Council’s (VC) ongoing mission to demonstrate transparency in our decision making, we have created an online voting process for the volunteer community to help us choose the project we we want to support most.
The 3 options are listed below in greater detail and you can ONLY VOTE FOR ONE PROJECT.
Voting is open to volunteers from July 27 – Aug 14.
UPDATED: Volunteers have inquired how their funding is recognized. Here’s some more information:
* The Development team is still in the process of seeking lead support ($100k+) for both I AM HERE and the Montgomery project, so the Volunteers would not be lead supporter on either project. * If the Gallery is not successful in securing lead supporters, the Development team will look at the positioning of the Volunteer recognition in the context of the gift levels of other supporters, but it would not be lead supporter. * The Montgomery project has a significant group of supporters already. Volunteer recognition would be commensurate with your level of support.
The approximate $50/60K contribution of the Volunteers means that recognition will be included on: • Exhibition title wall and on-site signage • Exhibition catalogue • Marketing and publicity materials including AGO website and select advertisements • Annual Donor Wall and the AGO’s online Annual Report • Introductory remarks at exhibition-related events
On to this year’s projects for consideration:
1. Exhibition Support – “I Am Here: Home Movies and Everyday Masterpieces” (Target dates: March 20– June 13, 2021, subject to change)
We love to look at ourselves—and we love for others to look at us. Since early humans first painted images on cave walls, and on through the age of social media, human beings have been compelled to document and share our daily experiences through art. I Am Here: Home Movies and Everyday Masterpieces celebrates and interrogates this universal drive, which spans millennia, crosses cultures and motivates renowned artists and everyday people alike. In the context of COVID-19 and a renewed focus on social justice, the exhibition will also illuminate the role of self-documentation in capturing and creating societal change.
By supporting this project, you will make it possible to: – Bring our community together – Spark vital conversations – Welcome new audiences
2. Program Support: Access Initiative
In May 2019, the AGO launched the game-changing Access initiative to remove financial barriers and open our doors wide to the public. This new model offers free admission to those 25 and under; and a $35 Annual Pass that makes visiting the Gallery throughout the year affordable.
As of March 31, 2020:
· Almost 160,000 people have signed up for an Annual Pass – an average of 440 per day
· The influx of Annual Pass holders has resulted in AGO audiences that better reflect the diversity of Toronto
· With more than 105,000 Annual Pass holders aged 25 and under, we have connected with the next generation of AGO visitors
· 40% of single-admission visitors have converted their ticket into a $35 Annual Pass
· As of March 31, 2020, the AGO community now includes almost 290,000 Members and Annual Pass holders – larger than the membership of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The AGO believes in making art accessible and increasing the diversity of our visitors by age, geographic, ethno-cultural and socio-economic background, engaging with audiences that are more reflective of the people of our city. To sustain this great initiative, the AGO is seeking philanthropic support to ensure that affordable access to the gallery remains available for years to come.
3. Exhibition & Research Support: “The Montgomery Collection” (new!)
In 2019, the AGO acquired one of the world’s most significant collections of its kind, The Montgomery Collection — 3,500 photographs from the Circum-Caribbean, dating from 1840 to 1940. This collection brings to life the changing economies, environments and communities that emerged following the abolishment of slavery. It also highlights the work of many regional and international photographers and studios who documented the lands, people, and cultures.
Noteworthy is that this acquisition was made possible with the support of individuals from Toronto’s Black and Caribbean communities. The AGO takes great pride in acquiring a collection of such magnitude and is committed to undertaking rigorous scholarly research of this rich material. We have hired a researcher, Camila Collins Araiza, to work with our curatorial team with a goal of presenting an inaugural exhibition of the Montgomery Collection in 2021.
Philanthropic investment in both the research phase and exhibition will enable the AGO to celebrate this important collection, tell new stories, and engage the large Caribbean community in Toronto, and indeed in Canada and beyond. While this exhibition does not take place until the 2021/22 fiscal year, a significant portion of the project is pre-exhibition research, which also requires significant financial support.
VOTE NOW to support the project you want to see supported by this year’s Volunteer Endowment Trust Funds, by clicking on this link
It is hard to believe that it is already August and the days are starting to get shorter! This email was delayed as I was off on vacation. While I was hoping for some travels into the wilds of the great Canadian North – akin to Tom Thomson’s Morning Cloud, alas my last minute planning resulted to an adventure to the “wilds” of Sarnia! At least there was some lake swimming and plenty of fresh from farm produce!
The entire Visitor Welcome Manager team is now in a rotating schedule back at the gallery as audiences start to pick up! I can tell you that people continue to enjoy Diane Arbus: Photographs, 1956 – 1971 (which has been officially extended to November 8th) . We have had over 21,000 Front Line Workers passes booked – most of which are new to the gallery! The Bistro is also open during gallery hours for take out as well as some inside seating! I have attached the menu here.
Please read on!
Love Letter to the AGO!
One of my favorite times in the gallery is that magic hour, when the sun casts light across the spiral staircase! What part of the gallery are you missing? Have you come to the gallery since opening? Which part did you enjoy the most? Both Jonathan and Trish seemed to relish a return back to the Henry Moore gallery. I think Christine is still due for a proper re-acquaintance with the gallery to see what she missed – but she is happy to see the welcoming red AGO sign out front of the building!
Having been back in the building for over a month, it’s astonishing how good it feels to be back in the building. After 3 months of a proper in apartment hibernation with very limited grocery visits, I have really celebrated the ease in which the gallery slowly has opened to the public. You can see it in people’s face – especially at the start of a visitors experience. It could be their first indoor navigation for the visual splendor of the building and it’s collection. A sense of returning back home!
Volunteer Connector Series with Stephan – Wednesday August 12
I wanted to highlight an upcoming event this week that Holly mentioned in the Volunteer blog that is a part of the Volunteer Connectors series. On Wednesday, August 12th at 5pm there will be a an exclusive volunteer-led talk with Stephan Jost! You can send any questions you have to [email protected] or Volunteer Presient, [email protected] by Sunday August 10th. These will be used to guide the conversation. Holly will send out an updated Zoom link and reminder prior to the session!
If you can’t connect directly by clicking on this link, you have two options:
1) Open a new browser window (i.e. open a new window in Chrome or Firefox or Safari, and copy and paste the above link and press return OR 2) Go to www.zoom.us,Select “Join a meeting”, enter the Meeting ID: 961 4371 0048 and Password: 496700
Shape of the Museum: Adam Levine
The AGO hosted a Shape of the Museum with Adam Levine, the AGO’s Assistant Curator of European Art in conversation with Kathleen McLean, AGO Assistant Curator of Talk Programs, several weeks ago – which I have linked here. It was a very interesting discussion that touched on selected objects in the AGO’s European Collection that offer important direct links to the Transatlantic slave trade and colonization. Both speakers also took a deeper dive into our new acquisition, Portrait of a Lady Holding an Orange Blossom. I encourage you all to watch this discussion as it was incredibly illuminating!
If you want to learn even more about the Portrait of a Lady Holding an Orange, consider checking a new podcast where Adam Levine and Assistant Curator Monique Johnson try to unlock the mysteries hidden in this painting. Where and when the painting was made? Who was the woman in the painting? What was her life like? These podcasts can be streamed directly from our website here (scroll all the way down).
We’ll be connecting with Stephan on Zoom (here’s Stephan in conversation with Gaetane Verna, Director of The Power Plant, back in May)
Hello Everyone,
We’re taking a break this week from our Volunteer Connectors series, but we are back next week (Wednesday August 12, 5pm) with a bang! – Join us for an exclusive volunteer-led talk with our Director and CEO, Stephan Jost!
It’s been a long time since we’ve seen Stephan and we’re so excited for him to join us to reflect on this time. With that in mind, we’re asking for your questions. Please send your questions to [email protected] or Volunteer President, [email protected] – we’ll compile a list and use these to guide our conversation. Please submit your questions by Sunday August 10.
And a reminder: PLEASE DON’T LOG ON TO THE VOLUNTEERS CONNECTOR LINK this week– our Wednesday August 5 meeting is cancelled – we have a conflict during that time and by trying to log on, you may disrupt another call.
THANK YOU and we’ll see you on the 12th! (As always we’ll send an updated link and reminder just before our session)
Also upcoming: Wednesday August 19, 5pm – Volunteer Mindfulness with Volunteer Council member Barbara Glaser and Gallery Guide Anne Hart
As promised, this is the first in a series of regular updates on
the progression of the AGO’s Diversity & Inclusion strategy.
The AGO is committed to providing platforms for artists who are voices of change in our culture and to better reflecting the diversity of its community. The AGO supports a culture of inclusion and diversity. Discrimination should never happen to anyone at the AGO, or anywhere else. We all need the training and self-education to play our part in creating a more inclusive culture. I am proud of what we have done lately on ago.ca. Staff are and have been leading change. But there is much more work to do. We promise to build upon the work we have done to date and are developing a content strategy that will reflect this commitment.
In the last several months, the AGO has focussed on hosting talks and performances featuring leading BIPOC artists.
The AGO’s weekly newsletter read by 250K subscribers, the AGOinsider, features profiles of artists and programs in the gallery and increasingly, outside its walls. Recent articles include a two part roundtable on How To Talk About Anti-Black Racism with community leaders and educators.
Our website, social media posts and digital promotion has reflected this programming and communications focus.
Work is ongoing to ensure that the AGO Collections, its exhibitions and programs reflect our diverse communities. In 2017, the AGO announced the wholesale reorganization of the department of Canadian art. Henceforth, the newly created Department of Indigenous & Canadian Art, would be co-led by curators of Indigenous and Canadian, organized on a nation to nation basis. Visitors to the renovated J.S. McLean Centre for Indigenous + Canadian Art can see contemporary and historical works organized thematically in dialogue, with label text in Anishinaabemowin, English, French and where relevant Inuktitut.
OUR PEOPLE:
The AGO is committed to making our workplace more diverse and inclusive and ongoing learning is taking place with employees and volunteers, including through AGO U. The AGO’s standard for a safe and inclusive work environment is one where everyone can be their true self.
· The AGO is investing in a robust anti-oppression training program and require all employees, volunteers complete the training by September 18. This training will launch a regular and ongoing program of mandatory D&I training, and will be included in all staff and volunteer onboarding. LAUNCH COMPLETED: September 18, 2020
· We are actively reviewing staffing needs to create a healthy and inclusive culture at the AGO. This could include a dedicated management position reporting to the Director’s Office.
TIMELINE FOR DECISION: September 2020
· The overall hiring process is currently being reviewed and will be reconstructed to include a diversity and inclusion lens on all aspects including, interview questions, where jobs are posted and who is involved in the hiring process.
TIMELINE FOR LAUNCH: September 2020
· Talent management and succession planning strategies are being developed that will be more strategic and viewed through a D&I lens.
TIMELINE FOR LAUNCH: September 2020 OUR AUDIENCE:
The introduction of the AGO Annual Pass in May of 2019, and the sweeping admission changes that came with it, including free admission for all visitors age 25 and under, has meant that the AGO audience is more diverse than ever and more accurately reflects the people who live in our community.
BUSINESS PRACTICES:
The AGO will be reviewing protocols and practices as it relates to procurement through a D&I lens and making changes as needed.
TIMELINE FOR LAUNCH: Fall 2020 Further details on training and other aspects of the D&I strategy will follow.
I watch the COVID-19 numbers for Ontario and Canada daily. It’s
clear that together we have made remarkable progress. Simultaneously, as much
as I want to celebrate our success, I also see the deep economic impact the pandemic
is having on businesses, families and individuals in Toronto. Of course I hope
for a speedy financial recovery but I know we need to be mindful of very real
economic challenges. My gut sense is that we need to continue doing what we do
best – focus on art, learning and our audience. I am thrilled to see visitors
in the gallery. I’m also aware that even on days where the time slots are
nearly sold out, we are are only at 20% of our normal attendance. With today’s
launch of Stage 3 and the opening up of more businesses – including AGO Bistro,
which offers take-away and soon in-room dining – we will see how things go.
In the coming weeks, you will receive regular communications about the progression of our Diversity & Inclusion strategy including training. As I stated at Town Hall last month, I am committed to the first phase of training happening by mid-September. Our commitment is ongoing, there will be much more beyond September 18th. Lots of work is going on in the background right now and you will hear more about steps we are taking to make the AGO more diverse and inclusive. I am proud of what we have done lately on ago.ca but there is much more work to do. Some of you might have noticed a Toronto Star article yesterday about a Food & Beverage employee who experienced a situation that made her feel discriminated against because she is Black. I have heard stories from several of you about other similar situations. This should never happen to anyone at the AGO, or anywhere. We all need the training and self-education to play our part in creating a more inclusive culture.
With the school year fast approaching and the news that kids are going back to in-class instruction, it’s good to acknowledge that we are all educators and we are all learners. This week, I am sharing a “primer” on Talking About Race developed by the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture’s education department. Yes, it is American based but still has relevant tools. There are Canadian examples – including Dr. Audrey Hudson’s recent online sessions on “How to Talk About Anti-Black Racism Part 1 and 2”, which you can view on ago.ca – and I encourage you to share them with one another.
Also – these final words by John Lewis are deeply powerful and
beautiful:
