First Thursdays are back!
The March First Thursday comes in like a lion as OCAD University's Criticism and Curatorial Practice students take over Toronto's leading monthly art party. An annual tradition, the OCAD U guest-curated First Thursday is one of the years' most anticipated, and the class of 2016 doesn't disappoint with a hotline of emerging and established artists reflecting on Toronto's artistic past, present and future.
Photography blooms at the AGO this May, with the launch of the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival. Inspired by the ongoing special exhibition Outsiders: American Photography and Film, 1950s – 1980s, and a new solo exhibition by German photographer Thomas Ruff, the May First Thursday presents an exciting lineup of talks, performances and art-making dedicated to challenging images.
As the leader of the Group of Seven, Lawren Harris first rose to national prominence while living and painting in Toronto during the 1910s and 20s.
The fall season of AGO First Thursdays continues with a supersized event celebrating the 10th edition of Scotiabank Nuit Blanche, produced by the City of Toronto. First Thursday visitors will be the first to get a glimpse into the all-night art event with previews of artist projects, special talks and performances filling the galleries.
Freeze-Frame! The AGO Year of Photography is off and running, and to celebrate, First Thursdays is exposing an exciting group of Toronto artists pushing the limits of the medium, including Nadia Belerique, Bambitchell and Lee Henderson. The night celebrates an explosion of photography-related exhibitions at the AGO this fall, including Anne Collier, the AIMIA | AGO Photography Prize and Camera Atomica.
Long Winter’s annual takeover of First Thursday returns for a third time to create one of Toronto’s most highly-anticipated art parties. This December, the popular inter-arts festival will reimagine the AGO as a live broadcasting centre under the banner ‘LONG WINTER TV’. Headlining the event will be Toronto trash-punk band VCR, in their first museum performance.
Guest-curated by OCAD U MFA Criticism and Curatorial Practice students
On June 4, AGO First Thursdays takes inspiration from the exhibition Stephen Andrews POV, bringing together a cross-section of extraordinary local and international artists around the themes of transformation and metamorphosis.
