Art Gallery of Guelph

The Art Gallery of Guelph (AGG), formerly the Macdonald Stewart Art Center, is a public gallery and adjoining Sculpture garden in Guelph, Ontario. Its collection consists of over 9,000 works. The AGG is a nonprofit organization which focuses on research, publishing, educational programs, and touring exhibitions.

History
Originally known as MacDonald Stewart Art Center in 1978, AGG is a nonprofit organization with three sponsors: the University of Guelph, the City of Guelph, and the Upper Grand District School Board. It was founded in 1978. The art gallery was established as a new cultural institution to benefit the wider community. When the gallery formally opened to the public on November 7, 1980, the University of Guelph curator, Judith Nasby, was appointed director and curator.

Architect Raymond Moriyama transformed the 1904 school building into a public art gallery that adheres to international standards. The Donald Forster Sculpture Park, initiated in 1983 on a 2.5-acre site near the building, stands as Canada's largest outdoor collection at an institution. With 40 works contributed by artists nationwide, the park showcases a diverse range of artistic expressions. In 2016, the Art Gallery of Guelph underwent a leadership change, appointing Shauna McCabe as the gallery's director on August 1 of that year.

AGG is housed in a 31,000-square-foot building with seven gallery spaces over two floors. There are three open-concept galleries on the main floor, including a central clerestory gallery. The second floor includes three uniquely configured gallery spaces, as well as a lecture room, large-scale art storage, and an art studio.

AGG conducts contemporary exhibition programming featuring international and national artists. Therefore, the exhibitions aim to highlight the emerging work of established regional artists. The Art Gallery of Guelph collection includes a large assortment of Canadian art, as well as an expansive Inuit art collection. In 1926, the Ontario Agricultural College (affiliated with the University of Guelph since 1964) purchased a painting by Tom Thomson called The Drive (c. 1916), which marked the start of the collection. This painting is now one of the gallery's most celebrated works. The permanent collection features First Nations, Inuit, Canadian and international art.

In 2022, the AGG announced a call for submissions for the 2022 Middlebrook Prize for young Canadian curators. The objective of the competition was to inspire positive social change in economic, environmental, social and cultural challenges.

Incorporation
On November 30, 1978, the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre was incorporated as a Non-Profit Organization and registered as a Charitable Organization.

The creation of the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre took place when the centre was established through a private member's bill introduced to the provincial legislature. Its four sponsors included: the Wellington County Board of Education, the city of Guelph, the County of Wellington and the University of Guelph. In 2012, the county exited the partnership and subsequently the Art Gallery of Guelph Act, through which the gallery's name change was achieved, received Royal Assent on December 11, 2014.

Architecture
Architect Raymond Moriyama was selected to transform the school into a gallery which would meet international standards. Moriyama's design added two wings. These additions contain mechanical spaces and stairs, providing an additional 6,000 square feet of space. The façade, with its Greek Revival porches, has been restored and its original roofline maintained.

A three-story skylighted gallery is suitable for showing large paintings, sculptures, oversized tapestries, and banners. Approximately 7,000 square feet has been allotted for art exhibitions and events. In addition to gallery spaces, the first and second levels house a gallery shop, a lecture hall, and a multi-purpose studio/meeting room. The lower level includes a facility for the proper care and storage of art as well as exhibition preparation. The third floor contains offices, a meeting room and a resource center.

Gallery Shop
The gallery shop at the Art Gallery offers a diverse selection of artistic creations by regional artisans, encompassing various mediums such as jewelry, porcelain, pottery, blown glass, woodwork, and metalwork. Additionally, the shop features paintings and works on paper that are available for both purchase and rental. Managed by the AGG Volunteer Association, the shop operates as a fundraising endeavor to support the gallery's activities and initiatives.