Event Details

Founded in 1900 as the Art Museum of Toronto, the Art Gallery of Ontario is the largest art museum in Canada, with a physical facility of 583,000 square feet. The Gallery’s permanent collection holds 80,000 art objects, dating from 100 BC to the present day. In 2018 the AGO welcomed 950,841 visitors, with approximately half coming from outside the GTA. In 2019 the AGO launched a new admission model - offering visitors a full year of unlimited access to their Collection and all special exhibitions for only $35 while also making the Gallery free for all visitors 25 and under. About two to three times per year, the AGO presents blockbuster exhibitions that serve as major visitor draws. These exhibitions typically run for twelve weeks and are often international in scope. The organization is currently undertaking a historic expansion with the construction of the Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery (DRMCG). Opening to the public in 2027, and designed by Diamond Schmitt, Selldorf Architects and Two Row Architect, the 40,000 square foot expansion will add fourteen new galleries spread across five floors.

This application is for the opening of the "Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery (DRMCG)", a historic 40,000 square foot expansion of the AGO opening to the public in April 2027 and running through March 2028. Designed by Diamond Schmitt (Executive Architect), Annabelle Selldorf of Selldorf Architects (Design Architect), and Two Row Architect (Indigenous Architect), the expansion includes fourteen galleries spread across five floors and increases the AGO's art display space by 30%. Programming includes:

(1) The Shape of Here: artworks organized around ideas of arrival, human interaction, and understanding, featuring canonical masterpieces alongside recent works by Canadian artists of comparable quality and contemporary relevance;

(2) Immersion and Innovation: tall, flexible spaces hosting temporary installations of the most monumental and innovative art in the AGO's collection, enabling fully immersive visitor experiences;

(3) Revisiting Histories: dedicated space for art addressing historical issues from the latter half of the 20th century, featuring an abundance of works by Canadian artists documenting flashpoint moments in history;

(4) Collections of Toronto: a showcase of the AGO's sculpture, prints, and drawings holdings, emphasizing the work of Canadian artists and the story of how the museum has built its Modern and Contemporary Collection over decades;

(5) The Art of Our Time: works by local and global living artists in dialogue with each other, reflecting diverse perspectives shaping the contemporary moment, alongside more complex creations; and

(6) Public programming and special events: enriching programming developed by the Education and Programming team in fall 2026, including potential gallery guides, school and teacher programs, and special events to engage diverse audiences in the new space.