Volunteer Connector Series Meeting #2 – Wednesday July 15, 5pm Special Guest:  Melissa Smith, Assistant Curator Community Programs & Gallery Guide Coordinator 

It is important that museums pivot during important social movements. In last week’s AGO from Home, Stephan interviewed Stephanie Stebich, Director, Smithsonian American Art Museum, and she shared how the Museum is  re-installing their collection to a tell a more inclusive American History.

In this week’s Volunteer Connector series, Melissa Smith joins us to share new directions she and the Education and Public Programs team will be looking to address in digital strategies, tours and access programming.

To join this week’s Volunteer Connector zoom call, simply click on this link https://klick.zoom.us/j/96143710048?pwd=VUE3K2tJVXdTOWJqdEt3SjF4bXk2Zz09 at 5pm on Wednesday July 15 (you cannot register in advance – just click on the link to join)

As a primer, volunteers are encouraged to check out the recent conversations Gallery staff and guests have shared around current events and the opportunity for museums and galleries to engage in a more diverse and inclusive way forward – all archived on the AGO’s youtube channel, including:

Talk #1: https://ago.ca/events/how-talk-about-anti-black-racism#how-to-talk-about-anti-black-racism led by Dr. Audrey Hudson, Associate Curator, Schools & Early Learning

Talk #2: https://ago.ca/events/how-talk-about-anti-black-racism-part-2#how-to-talk-about-anti-black-racism-part-2 continuing with Dr. Audrey Hudson

And particularly in regards to museum education:

Shape of the Museumhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cB_TVWI3QuMJoin leading voices in anti-oppresive museum education, Wendy Ng and Syrus Marcus Ware for a conversation with the AGO’s Audrey Hudson and Devyani Saltzman

And particularly in regards to access:

Shape of the Museumhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THQCOrZOjIQ Helen Chatterjee and Melissa Smith on art, audiences and learning in different ways

We look forward to seeing you there!

– Holly and the Volunteer Council 

Dear Volunteers,
We have exciting news to share! Our first recipe exchange starts now; a further opportunity to connect as a AGO Volunteer Community over a common foodie passion.

So how does this work? We will collect and circulate recipes from this group and we are looking for inspiration and ideas from you! Whether it is your favourite go-to, the latest foodie trend, a recipe with a good loving life passed down from generations, or something you picked up from faraway, exotic travels – anything you can dream up, we’ll cook up!

There will be added layers to this fun concoction, from cooking and baking advice, tools and techniques, meeting chefs to discussing tips and recipes, food and art themes and how they relate. Various possibilities and themes to explore! We are eager to hear from you on your thoughts, ideas and how you would like our recipe exchange to unfold. Contribute your recipes to Volunteer Council Member Veronica, by sending an email to [email protected] by Tuesday July 28.

So let’s get cooking!
– From members of your Volunteer Council, Barbara Glaser and Veronica Ha

Hello Everyone,

So I know that the last months have been intense. We have had a global health pandemic compounded by a global financial crisis and a global movement for social justice. I know this is a marathon but what I don’t know is if we are in mile 2 or mile 20.  That said this past week has been exhilarating seeing us reopen. It’s been exciting to welcome visitors and staff back to the AGO and watching people reconnect through art. Thanks again to everyone who had a role in making this a huge success. The highlight is chatting with staff who are back at work and sharing their COVID-19 quarantine stories … the short version of most of the stories is “darn that was hard and I am glad to be back!”

As more staff members return to work at the gallery, please check in with your manager/LT member to ensure that you are familiar with the current health and safety protocols for entering the building. I got busted on Wednesday when I absentmindedly walked out of my office without a mask! It is important that we all help one another follow the rules. Help us keep you and our visitors and staff safe. Also a reminder that staff can enjoy complimentary coffee and tea in the Staff Coffee Bar at Café AGO from Thursday to Sunday from 9 am to 3 pm.

For this week’s anti-racist reading I am sharing a link that Julie Crooks shared with the IDEA group earlier this week. The big takeaway for me is that to move forward, everyone needs to be uncomfortable and accountable, and that is how genuine change is made. Read the article – I am sure the world of art museums is not all that different from the world of television production.

Prentice Penny Calls Out Hollywood’s Blackface Whitewash & Sliding Scale, And Offers Plan For True Change (Deadline) https://deadline.com/2020/07/prentice-penny-hollywood-blackface-commentary-diversity-plan-guest-column-1202978040/

Have a great weekend everyone,

Stephan

Hello everybody!

We have officially opened our doors to our Members, Pass holders, and a small crew of staff.  We were also open for staff and volunteer preview days. The feedback from everyone has been overwhelmingly positive. People are so happy to be back in the gallery to enjoy the collection and create a sense of normalcy in their lives! Most people were relieved to see all the safety measures that were in place so they could relax and enjoy one of their favourite places in the city. I have included a sweet video link here that the gallery created (with the help of some tortoises from the Toronto Zoo) that helps give visitors a peek into what they will experience at the gallery. Enjoy!

Finally, in light of our team’s reduced work week and the fact that we are now back on site, we will be moving towards a biweekly newsletter over the summer.

Now that we are back in the building, we are excited to tell you all about it. We encourage you to continue to share your questions and feedback! 

Please read on!

Ch-Ch-Ch Changes

Did you recently visit the gallery when we re-opened? We would love to hear your feedback! Please email your feedback to [email protected]

• Any works that resonated with you?
• Any spaces you felt excited to be back in?
• How did you find the safety measures?
• Is there anything you would change?

AGO From Home

The AGO hosted another AGO from Home event on Thursday. Stephan interviewed Stephanie Stebich, Director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington DC. Here are some highlights from the discussion: 

• The Smithsonian is aiming to open for Labour Day!
• The Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum and research complex, which is comprised of 19 museums most of which are in the nation’s capital and two are in NYC
• The Smithsonian is in two historic landmark buildings that cover 2 city blocks and hosts over 21 million people every year!
• Stephanie is currently drawing inspiration from Arthur Jaffa’s Love is the Message and the Message is Death (which was also highlighted as inspirational work from a previous conversation with The High’s Randall Suffolk) 
• In co-operation with 13 institutions from 7 different nations, this piece was live streamed over 48 hours and was seen by 17 million people!
• Museums have a social justice role as artists help people see the world differently by helping people to understand the complexity and nuances of the world. It is important that museums pivot during important social moments.
• The Smithsonian American Art Museum is re-installing their collection to tell a more inclusive American story 

As of the time of writing the next AGO from Home conversation has yet to be confirmed online. Make sure to check the website in a few day to register once this is announced (if you miss the conversations live, remember to check the Gallery’s youtube channel where these important conversations are eventually archived). You may also be interested in seeing Art in the Spotlight: The Montgomery Collection of Caribbean Photographs on Tuesday, July 7th at 4pm. Register by clicking here.

Be well & stay healthy,

Jonathan, Christine, Trish and Nicole

Hello Everyone,

Yes, we have re-opened! Yesterday’s opening and the activity so far has been very smooth and it is truly wonderful to see our public back in the building.

Re-opening was a much larger task than closing the building down and a good number of you helped make it all possible. Many thanks again to the Re-opening Task Force led by Mike Mahoney and Christy Thompson; Protection Services, Facilities, People, Marketing & Design, Conservation and LAAS employees who have been on-site in recent days making sure the building is clean and safe; and to Visitor Welcome staff who are now back in the building welcoming Members and Passholders from Thursdays to Sundays. A special thanks to Warren Wilson, Deputy Director, Facility Services, Herman Lo, Director, Visitor Experience, and Trish Popkin, Manager, Visitor Welcome. Below are a couple of pics from my walk-around today.

For this week’s anti-racist reading I am sharing with you https://www.npr.org/2018/08/18/639822895/robin-diangelo-on-white-peoples-fragility – you can either read the article or listen to the audio.

Enjoy the weekend,

Stephan

Hello Volunteers!

Thank you to those of you who completed the “Volunteer Engagement in the time of COVID-19” survey. Based on those results, the Volunteer Council is piloting a weekly social drop-in Zoom call with rotating topics each week designed to keep our community engaged.

You can choose whether you’d like to participate in each week’s call based on the topic. There is no obligation to participate though everyone is welcome to join!

These sessions, held every Wednesday from 5:00pm – 6:00pm, will be hosted by your Volunteer Council with Holly Procktor (Coordinator, Volunteers) featuring special guests!

Our first month is already planned:

Wednesday July 8
Intro call and check-in:  Maya Kotlarenko (Volunteer President) and Holly Procktor introduce the program, why we’re doing it, goals and Zoom best practices. This is also a great opportunity to share how you’ve been keeping busy!

Wednesday July 15
Melissa Smith, Assistant Curator, Community Programs discusses Black Lives Matter and its impact at the Gallery and on our programs

Wednesday July 22
The Art I Live With: Participate in a “Show and Tell” with fellow volunteers to talk about favourite artwork in your home

Wednesday July 29
Literary Club – meet virtually with volunteers to discuss books, magazines or articles of interest

How It Works / To Join the Discussion:

Our weekly sessions will be hosted on Zoom, a web-based video conferencing tool that allows users to meet up online, with or without video (your preference). Please note: you will need to download Zoom on your computer or smartphone to participate.

Once you have downloaded Zoom, please click on this link to register: https://klick.zoom.us/j/96143710048?pwd=VUE3K2tJVXdTOWJqdEt3SjF4bXk2Zz09 This link will take you directly to the meeting.

If you haven’t already, please also consider joining our AGO Volunteers Facebook group an interactive space to share ideas, resources and connect with other volunteers.

Let’s try this together! We look forward to seeing you,

– Holly and the Volunteer Council

Curated art activities for kids and families to enjoy online this summer. Exciting new content launches each week including artmaking videos, live conversations and interviews with special guests and more! 

No registration required. Stay tuned for more info on AGO.ca

Want to know more? Stay connected with us for program updates for children and families.

Hello Everyone,

Next week, we re-open! I’m very excited and grateful for the work that the Re-opening Task Force has done to prepare us to welcome back our public. I am confident we have created a safe, warm and welcoming environment so that our visitors will have the best experience possible when we open our doors on July 2nd.

I encourage you to visit next Thursday or Friday. Do familiarize yourself with the process and the FAQs in this link

This week’s featured article was provided by Bob Harding, president of the AGO Board of Trustees. Please take the time to read it. We all have much to learn on this topic as we work together to reflect the people who live in our city and province.

Enjoy the weekend,

Stephan

Dear Employee and Volunteer Colleagues,

What’s happening?

As the AGO prepares to reopen to the public, we have organized an exclusive viewing for employees and volunteers to give you a chance to engage with art and your colleagues in a safe and responsible manner. Everyone will be asked to wear a mask and remain 2 metres apart during their visit. You won’t be able to access any back of house areas, including your work area and the volunteer lounge, during your visit. Your colleagues who are working will have completed orientation on the new procedures and we trust that everyone will respect our new protocols.  Most importantly, if you are not feeling well, please stay home.

Registration for employee and volunteer viewing is now open!

Registration is open and will close at 3 pm on Tuesday, June 30
Exclusive time slots for employee and volunteer entry are :
     *   Thursday, July 2 at 10:30 to 11 am, and 11 to 11:30 am
     *   Friday July 3 at 2:30 to 3 pm and 3 to 3:30 pm.
Employees and volunteers may book a viewing for themselves and up to 3    guests, for a total of 4 people. Everyone must register for a time slot in advance.

      How do I sign up?

  1.  Sign up by filing out the online booking form https://artgalleryofontario.wufoo.com/forms/gallery-reopening-visit-access-booking-form/ with your contact information and the time slot that you’d like to attend
  2.  Please note: Each time slot has a limited number of tickets available. Once they are gone, you will no longer be able to book that slot.
  3.  Forms should be submitted no later than Tuesday, June 30 at 3pm.

 Once I’ve signed up…

  1.  Please remember (write down!) your time slot as you will not receive a ticket. The time slot selected is the time in which you need to enter the Gallery.
  2.  Please arrive with your employee or volunteer I.D. badge and all of the guests joining you no earlier than 10 minutes before your scheduled time slot.
  3.  Upon arrival, please line up along the west side of the building (by the Group (school groups) Entrance – not Jackman Hall) and have your badge ready so we can check off your name. Visitor Services and Protection Services staff will pace those in the queue in order to maintain social distancing.
  4.  Please wear a mask for the duration of your visit and follow all posted health and safety guidelines.
  5.  Please do not visit if you are unwell.
  6.  Please note that only the Gallery spaces open to the public are available during your visit. Desks, locker areas, the volunteer lounge as well as all behind-the-scenes areas are all temporarily closed and inaccessible.
  7.  Please read the updated Gallery Guidelines and FAQs https://ago.ca/welcome-back before your visit.

If you have any questions, or experience trouble signing up, please email: [email protected]

We look forward to seeing you!

Herman Lo
Director, Visitor Experience
416 979 6660 x6329

AGO volunteer Cara-Lynn Nisenbaum shares her thoughts on art during the COVID-19 crisis.

As the world begins to open up again, finding peace in the beauty of the lockdown images is a welcome reprieve from the streaming newsfeeds updating us on the global crisis. Cities cleared of their crowds, some of the most populated sites worldwide – empty and slowing down. Images that at once present apocalyptic doom and rarely seen beauty of isolation. We can view places as if we are the only invited guest to preview a new exhibition.

Images captured by news photographers can feed our fear of the pandemic or we can choose to see beauty. Photographers have turned to locations of structural awe and heroic design to inspire us and perhaps provide a moment for escape or self-reflection. Photographer, Simone Monte states, “ … its is a privilege to be here (Rome) in this historically cruel moment. … to capture its stunning historic beauty in the dreary atmosphere is an honour to me.” (Brazilian photographer Simone Monte Captures Empty Streets of Rome During COVID-19 Lockdown)

“The absence of people provides us with the ability to see into the distance with endless visual perspective. We feel as though we are alone in the landscape, a heroic adventurer.” The pausing of gathering in public places changes our everyday life. But it can’t take away our appreciation for beauty or the uplifting energy we derive from art. In times of great challenge and distress we still can choose to seek solace in the arts. (The uncanny melancholy of empty photographs in the time of coronavirus)

Sources:

Silence in the Streets: Dispatches From New York City Under Lockdown

The Return of Fear New York, a child of disaster, remembers its past.

Coronavirus: ten Geographical writers share their tales of lockdown

Eerie Stillness: Portrait of Athens Downtown on Lockdown

markseliger.com/