Ottawa Art Gallery facts for kids
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| Established | 1988 |
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| Location | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Type | Municipal gallery |
The Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG) is a special art museum in Ottawa, Ontario. It opened in 1988 at a place called Arts Court. This gallery is a "municipal gallery," meaning it's supported by the city government.
The OAG has a huge collection of over 1,000 artworks. It also looks after the Firestone Collection of Canadian Art, which is owned by the City of Ottawa. The gallery offers many fun programs for the community. These include educational workshops and public events. The OAG loves to collect, understand, and share art. It's also a great place for people to meet and enjoy culture.
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How the Ottawa Art Gallery Started
The Ottawa Art Gallery began because local artists wanted to show their work. They also wanted to support the art community in the late 1980s. In 1988, "the Gallery at Arts Court" opened. It was located in the old County Courthouse building.
In 1993, the gallery officially became its own organization. It changed its name to the Ottawa Art Gallery. Before the OAG opened, there was a big art show in 1975. It featured over 300 artworks by 156 local artists. This show helped lead to the creation of the OAG.
In 1985, the City Council supported a plan for an arts center. The Carleton County Courthouse was chosen as the spot. This building is on traditional Anishinābe Aki territory. The city also started a special fund to buy art.
Mayo Graham became the first director of the gallery in 1989. By 1992, the OAG was officially named Ottawa's Municipal Gallery. This led to new exhibition spaces. The Firestone Gallery also opened to show the newly acquired Firestone Collection.
In 1993, the OAG became a charity. It also became fully independent. Mela Constantinidi took over as Director in 1993. She led the gallery for seventeen years. Alexandra Badzak has been the OAG's Director and CEO since 2010. She has helped the gallery grow a lot.
The Gallery Building and Its Growth
For many years, the Ottawa Art Gallery was at Arts Court. This building also housed about 25 other art groups. These included SAW Gallery and the Canadian Film Institute. The Carleton County Courthouse was built in 1870. It was an important government building. In 1985, it became a space for the arts.
The Ottawa Art Gallery built a brand new, much larger home. It received big help from the City of Ottawa and the province of Ontario. Many community members also donated money. The new building is 55,000 square feet. This is more than three times its old size! The expanded OAG building opened on April 28, 2018.
With more money from the government, the OAG started more public programs. These programs help people learn about and enjoy art. The gallery now offers programs like ArtWise and Creative Sundays. They also have Toddler Mornings for very young children. The OAG also hosts special events for local artists.
Art Collections at the OAG
The OAG takes care of two main art collections. One is the Firestone Collection of Canadian Art, owned by the City of Ottawa. The other is the OAG's own permanent collection.
The Firestone Collection
In 1992, the Ottawa Art Gallery became the home of the Firestone Collection of Canadian Art. This collection was started by Dr. O.J. and Isobel Firestone in the 1950s. They collected many Canadian artworks from across the country. Their home, Belmanor, was filled with art.
In 1972, the Firestone family gave 1,200 artworks to the Ontario Heritage Foundation. They also donated their house and money to support the collection. Dr. Firestone's second wife, Barbara, helped the collection travel. It was shown in Europe in the 1980s.
By 1992, the collection had grown to 1,600 artworks. The City of Ottawa and the OAG worked together to get the collection. The city now owns it, and the OAG cares for and displays it. The collection includes famous Canadian artists. Some are A. Y. Jackson, Lawren Harris, and Emily Carr. These artists were part of the Group of Seven. The artworks are shown in special exhibitions at the OAG. They are also loaned to other big museums.
The OAG's Permanent Collection
The Firestone Collection helped the OAG start its own collection. In the early 1990s, the OAG began collecting modern art. This art was mostly from the Ottawa-Gatineau region. This collection is now called the Permanent Collection.
It has over 1,000 artworks. These include both old and new pieces related to the region. The OAG adds new art every year. They get art through donations and by buying it. The gallery's director and art experts choose the new pieces.
The Permanent Collection has works by modern artists like Pat Durr and Barry Ace. It also includes art from the estates of Juan Geuer and Gerald Trottier. In 2016, Max Dean gave 50 of his photos and art installations to the gallery.
