Thank you, Maxine
Maxine Granovsky Gluskin, who has completed a 4-year term as President of the AGO Board of Trustees. Photo courtesy of the AGO/Craig Boyko.
Behind the scenes at the AGO is a dedicated group of volunteers who serve on the Board of Trustees. They oversee and guide us as we work to fulfill our mission to keep art, access and learning at the heart of all the decisions we make. For the past four years, Maxine Granovsky Gluskin has led the Board as its President, and her term concludes tomorrow (but good news for us: she’ll continue to serve as a Trustee).
A passionate and dedicated advocate, Maxine believes in the power of art to change the world. She has demonstrated truly exemplary leadership, both in her governance of the Board and in her philanthropic giving. According to our Director and CEO, Stephan Jost, “Maxine has a clear sense of purpose and deep belief in the Gallery’s mission to bring art and people together. When I was hired as Director and CEO [Maxine led the Board search committee], she welcomed me with grace and support.”
How do you thank someone who has done so much? Inspired by the example she has set, a group of fellow trustees, friends and family members decided to make gifts in her honour to support Look:Forward, our large-scale reinstallation of the AGO Collection. Led by AGO Vice President Rosamond (Roz) Ivey, this collective gift of close to $2,000,000 will support the project as it continues to unfold over the coming year, showcasing the very best of the Collection as it goes on display for everyone to enjoy. The surprise was unveiled last night at a reception held in Maxine’s honour.
Maxine has long championed the AGO Collection, and enthusiastically endorsed Look:Forward when it was launched. This is a fitting tribute to her vision and leadership that will ensure of support and passion for the arts.
We asked Roz how this remarkable gift came to be. “The group of donors who came together are excited about how Look:Forward positions the AGO for the future,” she said. “By asking for gifts in tribute to Maxine, we hitched ourselves to a star! Maxine’s fan club is large, and she is held in very high esteem for all that she’s done to move the AGO forward over the past four years. The response was immediate and enthusiastic. The toughest part was keeping it a secret!”
Maxine addressed the group gathered to celebrate her, and shared some heartfelt words about her experience over the past four years. “It has been an honour and a privilege to be president of the board of what I consider to be one of the finest groups of arts professionals in the country,” she said. “I enjoyed every minute of my tenure, through thick and thin, and have learned so much, particularly about human behaviour. About how a diverse and disparate group of people can come together so seamlessly, so beautifully, to create, to accomplish and to give meaning. So for that I give thanks.”
On behalf of AGO staff members, trustees and volunteers, thank YOU, Maxine!
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