Art Gallery of Guelph facts for kids
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| Established | 1978 |
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| Location | 358 Gordon Street (at College Avenue), Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 1Y1 |
| Type | Public gallery |
The Art Gallery of Guelph (or AGG) is a cool place in Guelph, Ontario. It's a public art gallery with a big outdoor Sculpture garden right next to it. The gallery has more than 9,000 amazing artworks! The AGG is a group that doesn't make money for itself. Instead, it focuses on learning, sharing information, teaching programs, and showing art exhibits that travel to different places.
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Discovering the Art Gallery of Guelph
How the AGG Started
The Art Gallery of Guelph opened its doors in 1978. It was first called the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre. The gallery was created to be a new cultural spot for everyone in the community. When it officially opened on November 7, 1980, Judith Nasby became its first director. She was also the art curator for the University of Guelph.
Designing the Gallery Space
A famous architect named Raymond Moriyama helped turn an old school building from 1904 into the art gallery you see today. He made sure it met high international standards for art galleries. In 1983, the Donald Forster Sculpture Park was started. It's a large outdoor area, about 2.5 acres, near the building. This park is Canada's biggest outdoor collection of art at one place. It has 40 artworks from artists all over Canada. In 2016, Shauna McCabe became the new director of the gallery.
Inside the Art Gallery
The AGG building is very large, about 31,000 square feet. It has seven gallery rooms spread across two floors. On the main floor, there are three open-concept galleries. One of these is a central gallery with high windows that let in lots of light. The second floor has three more unique gallery spaces. It also has a room for lectures, a big storage area for art, and an art studio where people can create.
What You Can See at the AGG
The AGG often shows new art exhibits by artists from Canada and around the world. These exhibits also highlight new works by talented artists from the local area. The Art Gallery of Guelph has a huge collection of Canadian art. It also has a very large collection of Inuit art. The gallery's collection started in 1926. That's when the Ontario Agricultural College bought a painting by Tom Thomson called The Drive. This painting, from around 1916, is now one of the gallery's most loved artworks. The permanent collection includes art from First Nations, Inuit, Canadian, and international artists.
Supporting Young Curators
In 2022, the AGG asked young Canadian curators to submit their ideas for the Middlebrook Prize. A curator is someone who chooses and organizes artworks for an exhibition. The goal of this competition was to inspire positive changes in areas like the economy, environment, and culture.
How the AGG Became an Organization
Becoming a Non-Profit
On November 30, 1978, the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre officially became a Non-Profit Organization. This means it was set up to serve the public good, not to make money for owners. It was also registered as a Charitable Organization. This allows it to receive donations and support its work.
Who Supports the Gallery
The Macdonald Stewart Art Centre was created through a special law passed by the government. It had four main supporters: the Wellington County Board of Education, the City of Guelph, the County of Wellington, and the University of Guelph. In 2012, the county decided to stop being a partner. Then, on December 11, 2014, a new law was passed. This law officially changed the gallery's name to the Art Gallery of Guelph.
The Gallery's Design and Spaces
Raymond Moriyama's Vision
Architect Raymond Moriyama was chosen to turn the old school building into a modern art gallery. His design added two new sections to the building. These additions hold things like heating and cooling systems and stairs. They also added an extra 6,000 square feet of space. The front of the building, called the façade, was carefully restored. It still has its original roofline and Greek Revival porches.
Spaces for Art and Learning
One special part of the gallery is a three-story gallery with a skylight. This tall space is perfect for showing very large paintings, sculptures, and big tapestries. About 7,000 square feet of the building is used for art exhibitions and events. Besides the art galleries, the first and second floors also have a gallery shop. There's also a lecture hall and a multi-purpose studio. This studio can be used for art classes or meetings. The lower level has special facilities to properly care for and store art. It's also where exhibitions are prepared. The third floor has offices, a meeting room, and a resource center for research.
The Gallery Shop
The gallery shop at the Art Gallery of Guelph offers many different artistic items. These items are made by local artists. You can find things like jewelry, porcelain, pottery, blown glass, woodwork, and metalwork. The shop also sells paintings and other artworks on paper. Some of these artworks can even be rented! The AGG Volunteer Association manages the shop. All the money raised from the shop helps support the gallery's activities and programs.
