Programming to spark excitement for all ages is offered daily all Family Day weekend and March Break. Studio courses – including one-day family sculpting workshops inspired by the art of KAWS – now on sale; AGO summer 2024 art camps go on sale January 30
TORONTO —This winter, one of Toronto’s most affordable cultural destinations, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) invites families to come together to make, move and be inspired! Admission to the museum is always free for children and youth, and includes special exhibitions KAWS: FAMILY, Building Icons: Arnold Newman’s Magazine World, 1938 – 2000, and Life Between Islands: Caribbean-British Art, 1950s-Now. Mark your calendars now for exciting free drop-in Family Day weekend and March Break programs. The AGO is open late on Friday until 9 p.m. and open every Saturday and Sunday between 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
“Bring your friends and family to the AGO to experience the exciting 2024 winter season programming,” said Neil Lumsden, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “The AGO’s extensive collection of art, along with special activities for Family Day and March Break, appeals to audiences of all ages, reinforcing Ontario’s reputation as an international destination for arts and culture.”
“Our family programs create accessible, joyful and thought-provoking opportunities for families to spend time together at the museum,” said Audrey Hudson, the AGO’s Richard & Elizabeth Currie Chief, Education & Programming. “Our Family Day and March Break drop-in programs aim to spark excitement in visitors of all ages – with artmaking, scavenger hunts, tours, dance workshops, karaoke, and relaxed visits for neurodivergent audiences. Creativity is good for everyone, and we take pride in offering so many intergenerational programs year-round.”
Registration is now open for all winter studio courses and workshops. AGO Members receive a discount on courses. For more information on how to become a Member, visit AGO.ca/membership today.
For a full list of courses and programs, visit AGO.ca/learn/family and ago.ca/events.
For details about upcoming free Virtual School Programs, including virtual journeys to Singapore and Atlanta, visit AGO.ca/learn.
Winter 2024 programming highlights for families and youth:
Family Weekends
Weekends are for families at the AGO, where admission is always free for AGO Members, Annual Pass holders, Indigenous Peoples, and visitors ages 25 and under! At the Dr. Mariano Elia Hands-On Centre, children under six can explore art-making activities, stories, and play-based learning. No registration needed. In Walker Court, AGO Art Carts provide visitors of all ages with free materials to make and do between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Relaxed Visits
Beginning Tuesday, February 6, 2024, between 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and occurring monthly through April, the AGO invites neurodiverse visitors and families, those on the autism spectrum, those with sensory and communication disorders and individuals with learning disabilities, to explore the museum. Program facilitators will be onsite activating our art cart with multi-sensory activities in Irina Moore Gallery West, and sharing visual guides, sensory maps, and kits. No registration required. Relaxed Visits and materials are free with general admission. For more information and to access the sensory maps, visit AGO.ca/events/relaxed-visits-1.
Summer Art Camp 2024 Registration
Don’t miss out! AGO art camp returns in 2024, offering nine weeks of artful adventures for children and youth ages five to 13. Blending studio art, museum tours and fun and games, new this year is a dynamic youth leadership training program. AGO members receive a discount on camps and enjoy early registration beginning January 30, 2024. Camps go on sale to everyone on February 1, 2024. A complete list of available camps will be available online January 16, 2024. For more details and to register, visit AGO.ca/learn/camps/summer-art-camp.
Family Day Weekend: Saturday, February 17 - Monday, February 19, 2024
Serving up three days of Family Day fun, the AGO welcomes families for free drop-in programs including guided tours of Life Between Islands: Caribbean-British Art, 1950s–Now, artmaking, storytelling with Yolanda T. Marshall, and dance performances and workshops courtesy Jade’s Hip Hop Academy. Events run daily between 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. All programs are included in General Admission and admission is always free for Indigenous Peoples, AGO Members, Annual Pass holders and visitors aged 25 and under. For more details, visit AGO.ca/events/family-day-weekend.
March Break at the AGO: March 9 - 17, 2024
For nine days, creativity rules at the AGO! Pick up your free AGO PLAY activity booklet at the entrance, and explore artmaking challenges, scavenger hunts, discussion prompts and games. From 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily, families can discover artmaking activities across the building and each afternoon Walker Court comes alive with karaoke. All programs are included in General Admission and admission is always free for Indigenous Peoples, AGO Members, Annual Pass holders and visitors aged 25 and under. For a complete list of March Break programming, visit AGO.ca/events/march-break.
Youth Workshops & Events
- Beginning Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at 4 p.m. youth ages 14 to 25 are invited to join textile artist Legin Knits for a weekly series of free drop-in crochet workshops. Specializing in one-of-a-kind pieces that fuse fashion and art, Legin will provide materials and instruction. For more details, visit AGO.ca/events/youth-workshop-art-crochet
- In honour of Keith Haring, on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. AGO welcomes Toronto Kiki Ballroom Alliance for a dazzling all ages Vogue Ball in Walker Court. This event is free for youth and included in general admission. For more details, visit AGO.ca/events/kiki-vogue-ball-x-keith-haring
- Beginning Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at 4 p.m. youth ages 14 to 25 are invited to join Iced Misto for dance workshops teaching the art of Punking and Whacking/Waacking. Workshops are free to join and takes place in the AGO’s Education Commons. Open to all experience levels. For more details, visit AGO.ca/events/youth-dance-workshop-punking-whacking-waacking
- Warehouse Jacks and Funky Facilitators return to the AGO on Friday, March 8, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. for a live house dance battle in Walker Court. Competitors will compete to live music from DJ Dirty Dale. This event is free for youth aged 25 and under and included in general admission. For more information on how to register to compete, visit AGO.ca/events/ago-Friday-nights-house-dance-battle-funky-facilitators-and-warehouse-jacks.
- On April 12, 2024, beginning at 7 p.m. in Walker Court, 416 Fits founder Aissatou Leye presents Value Village Lansdowne: The 416 Fashion Show. Showcasing local youth and their personal style in a one-of-a-kind fashion event curated by 416 Fits founder Aissatou Leye, this event aims to inspire, foster connections. Free with general admission. For more details visit AGO.ca/events/value-village-lansdowne-fashion-show.
Courses
Studio art courses for the entire family continue this winter at the Anne Tanenbaum Gallery School. Browse over 80 course offerings all inspired by the AGO Collection for all ages and interests. Registration now open for all winter courses at AGO.ca/learn/courses-and-workshops. AGO Members receive a discount on courses. For more information on how to become a Member, visit AGO.ca/membership today. Course highlights include:
- A one-day workshop for children aged 6 to 10 and a guardian, Sculpting Together: Exploring KAWS, takes participants into the museum to explore the exhibition KAWS: FAMILY, and then back into the studio to try it themselves. All materials are included. Workshops run Saturdays in January and February. For more details and pricing visit AGO.ca/events/sculpting-together-exploring-kaws-ages-6-10-adult.
- Beginning Wednesday, January 8, 2024, Cartooning is an eight-week course for youth ages 14 to 18. Using pencil, pen, brush, marker, acrylic paint and scratchboard, students will learn the art of drawing, storyboarding and character development. All materials are included. For more details and pricing visit AGO.ca/learn/courses/cartooning-3.
- Beginning Saturday, February 3, 2024, Illustration: Exploring KAWS & Keith Haring is a four-week illustration class for children aged 11 to 13 inspired by the artistry of Keith Haring and KAWS. Open to young artists of all skill levels, the course will introduce participants to a variety of materials including pen, pencil, chalk, and pastel. All materials are included. For more details and pricing visit AGO.ca/learn/courses/illustration-exploring-kaws-keith-haring.
Acknowledgments
Family Programs generously supported by:
Janis Rotman
Dr. Mariano Elia Hands-On Centre generously supported by:
The Mariano Elia Foundation
Relaxed Visits generously supported by:
The Azrieli Foundation
Youth programming generously supported by:
The Lloyd Carr-Harris Foundation
ABOUT THE AGO
Located in Toronto, the Art Gallery of Ontario is one of the largest art museums in North America, attracting approximately one million visitors annually. The AGO Collection of more than 120,000 works of art ranges from cutting-edge contemporary art to significant works by Indigenous and Canadian artists to European masterpieces. The AGO presents wide-ranging exhibitions and programs, including solo exhibitions and acquisitions by diverse and underrepresented artists from around the world. The AGO is committed to being welcoming and accessible: admission is free for anyone under 25 years, and anyone can purchase an annual pass for $35. In 2022, the AGO began the design phase of an expansion project intended to increase exhibition space for the museum’s growing modern and contemporary collection. When construction begins in 2024, it will be the seventh expansion that the AGO has undertaken since it was founded in 1900. Visit AGO.ca to learn more.
The AGO is funded in part by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. Additional operating support is received from the City of Toronto, the Canada Council for the Arts, and generous contributions from AGO Members, donors, and private-sector partners.
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