Plant a seed, embrace a new artwork by Ness Lee and invent something new! Four days of all-ages fun begins Friday, Feb 14 and is free for visitors 25 and under
TORONTO — Family Day is all about spending time with those we love, but one day is never enough! To celebrate all the artful ways we can come together, the AGO presents four days of family fun, beginning on Feb. 14, 2020. Featuring art installations, artmaking, music and more, the museum is the place to be, with free admission for visitors 25 and under, AGO Members and AGO Annual Pass holders.
Generously supported by Lead Sponsor MadeGood, Family Day programming at the AGO runs daily from Feb. 14 to Feb. 17, with a special holiday Monday opening hours of 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Welcoming visitors in a pillowy embrace, Toronto artist Ness Lee, the AGO’s fall Artist-in-Residence, presents a multi-story installation in Walker Court all weekend long. Her soft sculptures are just waiting to be played with.
Upstairs in Galleria Italia, unleash your imagination at our ‘inventions of goodness’ creation station, featuring art supplies and free samples provided by Family Day Lead Sponsor MadeGood. Once complete, these inventions will be displayed in Galleria Italia, a monument to our growing city of goodness.
Next stop: The Dr. Anne Tanenbaum Gallery School, where families can create their very own seed pockets. Taking inspiration from Hito Steyerl’s artwork Freeplots (2019) (currently on view in Hito Steyerl: This is the future on Level 5) this project encourages visitors to the Gallery School to plant and decorate packages of seeds to take home and plant in the garden come spring.
Visiting on Sunday, Feb. 16? AGO Family Sunday’s continues its month-long celebration of Black creatives during Family Day weekend. From 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, families will be invited to create found poetry inspired by Sandra Brewster's exhibition Blur, and to bask in the warm sounds of live steel pan performances happening in Gallery at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
The Dr. Mariano Elia Hands-On Centre for visitors aged 5 and under is celebrating Black History Month with artmaking activities inspired by Mae C. Jemison, the first Black female Astronaut. The Centre has also curated a selection of books by Black authors from Canada. Just outside the Centre is an all-ages dance floor, and for a restful break, there is a family quiet room available nearby. A roving Art Cart will also be out in the galleries offering families even more artmaking opportunities.
Hungry from all the action? CafeAGO is open all weekend with menu options for kids every day from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For a heartier meal, AGOBistro will be open for brunch Saturday through Monday from noon to 2:30 p.m. Or, visit the AGO’s cookie cart and join members of the AGO Pastry team in making your own unique creation.
shopAGO will also be open from 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for artful gift ideas, children’s books and creative supplies for artists of all ages.
For more details about Family Day and Family Sunday programming at the AGO visit ago.ca
Family Day Weekend is generously supported by: MadeGood
AGO Family Programs are generously supported by: Janis Rotman
ABOUT THE AGO
Located in Toronto, Canada’s largest city of 5.9 million, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is one of the largest art museums in North America. The AGO Collection of close to 95,000 works ranges from cutting-edge contemporary art to significant works by Indigenous and Canadian artists and European masterpieces. The AGO presents wide-ranging exhibitions and programs, taking special care to showcase diverse and underrepresented artists. Its 585,000 square foot building was most recently expanded in 2008 by Frank Gehry, and attracts approximately one million visits per year. A new admission model launched in May, 2019 offers all visitors 25 and under free, unlimited admission; a $35 Annual Pass includes entry for an entire year. Visit AGO.ca to learn more.
The AGO is funded in part by the Ontario Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. 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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For more information on Family Day activities at the AGO please contact:
Michael Watkins, Public Relations Officer
416-979-6660, ext. 504 | [email protected]