Be silly, free, fun, creative and let your imagination take over. What brings you joy?

You and your family are invited to spring into art this April Break! Join in the fun with five days of free, live virtual programming courtesy of the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Canadian Opera Company and Vancouver Art Gallery. Mix artmaking with fun performances and revealing behind-the-scenes tours. Families with kids of all ages are invited to log-on daily from 2 to 5 pm, Toronto time, April 12 through 16, for this cross-country arts break. No registration is needed and sessions will be livestreamed here on AGO.ca.

Our day programs will include programming from
2 pm - 3:15 pm - Art Gallery of Ontario
3:15 pm - 4 pm - Canadian Opera Company
4 pm - 5 pm - Vancouver Art Gallery

Watch the livestream here

PROGRAM

Art Gallery of Ontario

Time: 2 pm - 3:15 pm

Let play take-over! Join us for fun and creative play as we look at art that bring us joy! Gather your materials and put on your thinking cap. We'll explore artwork and artmaking with Art Instructor Amanda Acuri and Art Educator Lauren Spring as you think about different kinds of lines such as those in Albert Gleizes’ Le Port (Marseille)!

Materials List:

Your Sketchbook or loose sheets of paper
A ball of yarn, string or ribbon
Sticks - any size, twigs, broken branches
Paper - coloured paper
Scissors
Glue
Clothes Hanger
Tape (scotch/masking)
Pencil or coloured pencils

Meet our Team

Lauren Spring has been working as an Art Educator with the AGO (for both adult and school programs) for more than a decade. She is also a PhD candidate in the Education and Community Development Program at the University of Toronto (OISE). She also has a background in theatre and improvisation and has published many journal articles and book chapters about museum pedagogy, art history, theatre, arts-based research, mental health and community building.

Amanda Acuri is a photography based artist from Toronto and holds a BFA from Ryerson University and an M.A.A. from Emily Carr University of Art + Design. Amanda’s work has been displayed across Canada; it depicts altered and dramatized landscapes of installed light or materials within the greenery. She has enjoyed teaching art classes for the past 10 years encouraging creativity, experiential learning and a focus on developing a keen eye.

Canadian Opera Company

Time: 3:15 pm - 4 pm

Join designer Sonja Rainey in an art-making activity inspired by the colourful characters of Mozart’s playful opera The Magic Flute.

Sonja Rainey is a designer, facilitator and multi-disciplinary community engaged artist. Her work includes theatre, opera, film, shadow puppetry and concert & exhibition design. She invites curiosity by blending forms and materials to create & investigate unexpected connections. She is a teaching artist with the Canadian Opera Company and has produced work with the Prague Quadrennial, the Art Gallery of Mississauga, PAMA, Canadian Children’s Opera Company and various community arts organizations across Toronto.

Materials List:

Paper (8 ½ x 11 or larger)
Drawing materials - pencils, pens
Eraser
Ruler
Things to colour with - crayons, markers, colour pencils

Vancouver Art Gallery

Time: 4 pm - 5 pm

Playing with Sound and Movement
Join Family Programs Coordinator Christina Jones for a special screening of Allison Hrabluik’s film The Splits (2015), then experiment with surprising combinations of actions and sound effects!

Allison Hrabluik is a visual artist and filmmaker living in Vancouver, BC, where she teaches at Emily Carr University of Art + Design.

Materials List:

Objects that will create incredible sounds when moved in interesting ways.