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 |
| Type | Public gallery |
The Art Gallery of Guelph (AGG) is a public art museum located in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It used to be known as the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre. The gallery has a large collection of over 9,000 artworks. It also features a special outdoor area called a Sculpture garden. The AGG is a non-profit organization. It focuses on art research, publishing, educational programs, and touring art exhibitions.
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Discovering the Art Gallery of Guelph
How the Gallery Started
The Art Gallery of Guelph first opened in 1978. It was originally called the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre. This new art space was created to benefit the whole community. When the gallery officially opened its doors on November 7, 1980, Judith Nasby became its first director and curator. She was already a curator at the University of Guelph.
The gallery is sponsored by three main groups. These are the University of Guelph, the City of Guelph, and the Upper Grand District School Board.
The Building and Sculpture Park
The building itself was once a school from 1904. A famous architect named Raymond Moriyama changed it into a modern art gallery. He made sure it met international standards for art spaces.
In 1983, the Donald Forster Sculpture Park was started. This park is 2.5 acres big and is next to the gallery building. It is Canada's largest outdoor collection of art at an institution. The park displays 40 artworks from artists all over Canada.
In 2016, Shauna McCabe became the new director of the gallery. She started her role on August 1st of that year.
What You Can See Inside
The AGG building is quite large, covering 31,000 square feet. It has seven gallery spaces spread across two floors. On the main floor, there are three open-concept galleries. One of these is a central gallery with high windows called a clerestory.
The second floor has three more unique gallery spaces. It also includes a lecture room for talks and presentations. There is a large storage area for art and an art studio for creating art.
The Art Collection
The Art Gallery of Guelph shows modern art exhibitions. These shows feature artists from Canada and around the world. They also highlight new works by talented artists from the local area.
The gallery's permanent collection has a wide range of Canadian art. It also has a large collection of Inuit art. The collection started in 1926. That year, 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 famous pieces. The permanent collection includes art by First Nations, Inuit, Canadian, and international artists.
In 2022, the AGG asked young Canadian curators to submit ideas for the Middlebrook Prize. This competition aimed to inspire positive changes in society. It looked for ideas that could help with economic, environmental, social, and cultural challenges.
How the Gallery Became Official
On November 30, 1978, the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre became an official Non-Profit Organization. It was also registered as a Charitable Organization.
The centre was created through a special bill passed by the provincial government. Its first four sponsors were the Wellington County Board of Education, the City of Guelph, the County of Wellington, and the University of Guelph. In 2012, the county left the partnership. The gallery's name officially changed to the Art Gallery of Guelph on December 11, 2014. This change happened when the Art Gallery of Guelph Act received Royal Assent.
The Gallery's Design
Architect Raymond Moriyama was chosen to turn the old school building into an art gallery. His goal was to make it meet international standards. Moriyama added two new sections, or "wings," to the building. These additions hold mechanical equipment and stairs. They also added an extra 6,000 square feet of space. The front of the building, called the façade, was restored. It has Greek Revival porches and its original roofline was kept.
One special part of the gallery is a three-story gallery with a skylight. This area is perfect for showing very large paintings, sculptures, big tapestries, and banners. About 7,000 square feet of space is used for art exhibitions and events.
Besides the gallery spaces, the first and second floors have a gallery shop. There is also a lecture hall and a multi-purpose studio or meeting room. The lower level has special facilities to properly care for and store art. This is also where exhibitions are prepared. The third floor holds offices, a meeting room, and a resource center.
The Gallery Shop
The gallery shop at the Art Gallery of Guelph offers many unique artistic items. These items are made by local artists. You can find jewelry, porcelain, pottery, blown glass, woodwork, and metalwork. The shop also sells paintings and works on paper. Some of these artworks can even be rented. The AGG Volunteer Association manages the shop. All the money raised helps support the gallery's activities and programs.
