TORONTO – At an Annual General Meeting held on June 22nd, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) reported a successful 2015/2016 fiscal year, marked by robust attendance of 718,200 visitors, a healthy operating position and significant additions to the AGO collection.
The Gallery’s fiscal year—which ran from April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016—brought to Toronto stunning exhibitions that profiled masterpieces by renowned British artist J.M.W. Turner and celebrated Canadian artist Emily Carr. As a tribute to Ontario’s hosting of the Pan Am/Parapan Am Games, the AGO presented the first ever pan-American landscape exhibition, exploring the geography and history of the New World. The Gallery also declared a “Year of Photography,” with a series of exhibitions by emerging and leading artists in the medium, culminating with the major exhibition Outsiders: American Photography and Film, 1950s – 1980s.
A number of significant acquisitions were added to the AGO’s remarkable collection, which now holds over 90,000 works of art. Highlights from the past year include:
- Angelo Gabriele Pio, St. Jerome, c. 18th century;
- Nino Pisano, Tabernacle with Crucifix and Mary and St. John the Evangelist, c.1365;
- Otto Dix, Apparition at Night, 1923;
- Jacopo Chimenti, The Head of a Saint, looking upwards, c. early 16th century;
- James Welling, 0806, 2006;
- Tina Modotti, El Machete, 2011-2013;
- Paul Chan, 2nd Light , 2003;
- Robert Houle, Seven Grandfather, 2014;
- Song Dong, The Wisdom of the Poor: Communal Courtyard, 2011-2013; and
- Tim Pitsiulak, Niqjutiit (Country Food), 2008.
The AGO concluded its fiscal year with no bank debt, a strong cash position, and a surplus of $1.2 million from operations and art acquisitions, as a result of funds received for gifts of art purchased last year. (In addition, the AGO reported an unfavourable pension remeasurement of $2.5 million in compliance with pension accounting standards.)
The AGO Board of Trustees, led by president Maxine Granovsky Gluskin, welcomed two new members: Jeffrey Remedios, in 2015/2016; and Liza Mauer, at the Annual General Meeting. The full Board of Trustees now includes:
- Maxine Granovsky Gluskin;
- A. Charles Baillie;
- Shelagh Barrington;
- David Binet;
- Shary Boyle;
- Rupert J. Duchesne;
- Ivan Fecan;
- Andrew Federer;
- Shabin Mohamed;
- Gordon Nixon;
- Richard Rooney;
- Bob Harding;
- Phil Lind;
- Jonas Prince;
- Jay Smith;
- Camillo di Prata;
- Tony Gagliano;
- Rosamond Ivey;
- Kenneth Montague;
- Rebecca Murray;
- Jeffrey Remedios;
- Eleanor Shen;
- Liza Mauer;
- Councillor Joe Cressy; and
- Councillor Jaye Robinson.
Maxine Granovsky Gluskin continues as president of the Board of Trustees for the 2016/2017 year. Rupert J. Duchesne, Bob Harding and Rosamond Ivey are reappointed as vice-presidents. Shelagh Barrington has been appointed president of the AGO Volunteer Executive.
The Trustee Emeritus category honours those individuals who have made significant lifetime contributions to the AGO. The Trustee Emeritus now includes:
- Avie Bennett;
- David Campbell;
- James D. Fleck;
- Anthony R. Graham;
- Allan Gotlieb;
- Michael Hasley;
- Ydessa Hendeles;
- Michael M. Koerner;
- Gilles Ouellette;
- Carol Rapp;
- Samuel Sarick;
- Hilary Weston; and
- Robin Young.
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Caitlin Coull
Manager, Communications
[email protected]