Put some wonder into winter

The AGO presents its winter season of talks, performances, readings, screenings, events and courses. These inspiring programs present a number of creative thinkers, makers and performers shaping our world today, welcoming them to the museum to share their ground-breaking ideas. With many programs taking inspiration from the iconic photographs in Diane Arbus: Photographs, 1956–1971 and the mystery of Illusions: The Art of Magic, this season has plenty of tricks up its sleeve.

As the imaginative centre of the city, the AGO is committed to leading global conversations from Toronto. Here’s just a taste of the talks, performances, readings and screenings on offer this upcoming season. Full info can be found on the AGO events page

AGO Futures: Talks and Screenings

• As museums strive to become more inclusive, join award-winning journalist, author and activist Desmond Cole on February 5 for a conversation about anti-Black racism in Canada today.

• Celebrated Canadian artist Margaret Priest returns to the AGO on March 13 for an illustrated talk. Works from Priest’s The Monument to Construction Workers series are currently on view on Level 2 in the J.S. McLean Centre for Indigenous & Canadian Art.

• Other events in the AGO Futures series include the McCready Lecture on Canadian Art by Jolene Rickard, talks by Hobbes Ginsberg and Othello Grey, and an evening of poetry readings featuring Nancy Lee, Canisia Lubrin, Noor Naga and Michael Prior.

AGO Live

• After appearing at the Venice Biennale, Grandmother Mago premieres in Canada at the AGO on January 15 and 16. An ensemble work created by West Coast, London-based artist Zadie Xa, this dramatic processional through the museum will feature live acoustic drumming, dance and costumes.
   
• Other AGO Live performances include Slow Death, an emotional choreographed journey through two galleries created by artist and dancer Marie Lambin-Gagnon and Music in the Galleries – a series of in-gallery performances by students from the Royal Conservatory of Music taking place every third Sunday starting in January.

Illusions: The Art of Magic

• Visitors to Illusions: The Art of Magic are in for a mesmerizing surprise as performers from the Toronto Magic Company take to the in-exhibition stage to perform a spellbinding series of live magic shows. These daily performances are free with admission.

• You may know Houdini for his death-defying stunts and mind-bending illusions, but did you know he was also a silent film star? This winter, the AGO’s Jackman Hall theatre will feature several screenings of films directed by and starring Houdini presented with live musical accompaniment.

• Canadian magicians David Ben and Julie Eng will also come to the AGO for two separate talks about the Golden Age of Magic and life as a modern day magician.

Diane Arbus: Photographs, 1956–1971

• Hilton Als is a Pulitzer Prize-winning critic, a professor at Columbia University and a staff writer for The New Yorker. A leading voice on arts and culture in America, Als comes to the AGO’s Baillie Court on March 20 to discuss the life and work of Diane Arbus.

• Fans of Diane Arbus’s iconic photographs have the rare opportunity to hear the only known recording of the artist talking about her work. A Slideshow and Talk with Diane Arbus will be screened on February 21. Sophie Hackett, AGO Curator of Photography, will also deliver a talk later in the exhibition’s run, on April 8.

But that’s not all. With AGO All Hours in January, a full long-weekend of Family Day programming in February and nine straight days of drop-in programming over March Break, there’s always something fun happening at the AGO.

Visit our events page for a full list of the AGO’s winter season of programming and all the details for dates, times, locations and ticketing.

Stay tuned to the AGOinsider for all the latest updates, including feature stories and Q&As with some of the artists, performers and authors bringing their talent to the AGO this winter.

Admission to the AGO Collection and all special exhibitions is always free for AGO Members, AGO Annual Pass holders and visitors 25 and under. For more information, please visit the website.