The Art Gallery of Ontario sets out a business plan for each fiscal year in order to ensure that our operations and programming work to achieve the Gallery's mandate to “bring people together with art to see, experience and understand the world in new ways”.
The annual business also works to achieve the AGO's strategic direction, as defined by the goals set out in our current three-year strategic plan:
For 2016-17, the AGO's business plan outlines a full program of activity:
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We will continue to share with the public our remarkable collection of works of art that span from 100 AD to present day.
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We will offer a robust schedule of exhibitions, programs and activities that focus on the guiding principles of art, learning and access.
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Family programming will continue, including Family Sundays, March Break and Family Day drop in activities.
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Our active school group visit program will offer with curriculum-related themes offered to grades from junior kindergarten through Grade 12. Professional development workshops and programs will also be available to teachers.
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The AGO's “Free after Three” program will continue, offering complimentary general admission for secondary school students after 3 pm Tuesday to Friday. Free drop-in activities for youth are included as part of this program.
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We will continue to partner with 250+ community organizations throughout the GTA to make the AGO an accessible and welcoming destination for marginalized individuals. Our community organization partners are important ambassadors in raising awareness that the AGO is a fun and safe place to visit.
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Throughout 2016-17, the AGO will also focus on developing an ambitious and exciting program that will mark Canada's 150th birthday in 2017.
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The Grange Park revitalization project will see significant progress throughout 2016-17. The project is planned for completion in late spring 2017. This major capital initiative was made possible by generous contributions from The W. Garfield Weston Foundation and the City of Toronto. The transformation of Grange Park into a beautiful, well maintained and welcoming green space in the downtown core will draw significantly more local residents and visitors to this destination.
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In conjunction with the Grange Park project, the AGO will work on creating a south entrance for public use, scheduled to be operational when the park opens to the public in spring 2017.
Performance measures and targets
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Access to art: The AGO will make great works of art accessible to the public, through installations of our collection and temporary exhibitions of works from private and public collection around the world. Our target is to bring more than 700,000 visitors to the AGO in 2016-17.
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Access to learning: The AGO will deliver programs that will engage audiences of all ages with art, including a full range of school group programs. Our target is to bring more than 30,000 students to the AGO through school group visits in 2016-17.
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Community access: The AGO will continue to reach out to community organizations to remove or diminish socio-economic barriers that prevent individuals from considering the AGO a destination. Our target is to establish and maintain partnerships with more than 250 community organizations serving marginalized individuals.
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Fiscal prudence: The AGO is committed to fiscal prudence. Our target is to maintain a balanced operation with a budget of approximately $60M in 2016-17.