_______________________________________

ANNOUNCING THE 2018 OAAG AWARDS SHORTLIST

TORONTO, ON — The Ontario Association of Art Galleries (OAAG) is pleased to present its 41st season of the coveted OAAG Awards at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre Theatre on November 19. The event celebrates and recognizes the exhibitions, publications, and programming of Ontario’s public art galleries over the past year. This year will be our largest yet with an exclusive performance from performance artist Bridget Moser and musical set performed by Late Night Conversations. The OAAG Awards are the only annual juried awards of its kind.

“The Awards recognize excellence and celebrates the significance of Ontario’s Public Art Galleries. . . . We share an unbounded optimism in our services to Ontario’s Public Art Galleries’ impact and relevance in shaping and enriching the lives of Ontarians through art,” said Zainub Verjee, Executive Director of OAAG.

With over 230 nominees, from 34 public art galleries in 20 cities across Ontario, the shortlisted nominees are judged in eleven major categories for artistic merit and excellence. The categories include: Exhibition, Curatorial Writing, Art Writing, Public Program, Education, Art Publication, Design, Partnership, Lifetime Achievement, Colleague and Volunteer.

Join OAAG in celebrating the 41st OAAG Awards Gala at the Harbourfront Centre on Monday, November 19, at 6pm. Winners will be announced live during the ceremony. Reception starts at 4:30pm.

Now announcing the 2018 OAAG Awards Shortlisted Galleries:
(listed in alphabetical order)

• Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Kingston
• Art Gallery of Hamilton
• Art Gallery of Mississauga
• Art Gallery of Ontario
• Art Gallery of Windsor
• Art Gallery of York University (AGYU), Toronto
• Art Museum at the University of Toronto
• Blackwood Gallery, Mississauga
• Carleton University Art Gallery, Ottawa
• Doris McCarthy Gallery, University of Toronto Scarborough
• Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography, Toronto
• Gallery in the Grove, Bright's Grove
• Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery
• Mercer Union, a centre for contemporary art, Toronto
• Museum London
• Oakville Galleries
• Onsite Gallery, OCAD University, Toronto
• Ottawa Art Gallery | Galerie d’art d’Ottawa
• Rodman Hall Art Centre / Brock University, St. Catharines
• The Power Plant, Toronto
• University of Waterloo Art Gallery
• Varley Art Gallery of Markham

OAAG Awards 2018 Sponsors
Platinum: Flash Reproductions
Gold:Canadian Art, Donderdag, The Drake
Silver:Elgin Picture & Frame
Bronze: Geogram and NOW Magazine, Koyama Press 
Friend: Above Ground Art Supplies, Art Advisory, CARFAC Ontario, Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, Stephen Bulger Gallery, Toronto Flower Company
Live Entertainment: PACART

Jurors: Sharona Adamowicz-Clements, Xenia Benivolski, Nina Boccia, Merray Gerges, Chris Jaw, Jasmina Jovanovic, Grahame Lynch, Nahed Mansour, Rea McNamara, Carol Podedworny, Stefan St. Laurent, Annie Wong

Awards Production: Eileen Firth, Jessica Lukas, Parker O’Connor, Zainub Verjee

Technical Production: Jason Ebanks and Andrew Cromey

Design Credit: Donderdag

Printer: Flash Reproductions

_______________________________________

OAAG's History

OAAG is a registered charitable organization. Established in 1968, OAAG was incorporated in Ontario by letters patent on October 9, 1970. The Charitable Objects from the Letters Patent are:

• To encourage co-operation between member galleries and museums
• To encourage cooperation with the Ontario Arts Council and similar agencies
• To assist in the development of visual art centres in the province of Ontario
• To promote high standards of excellence and uniform methods in the care and presentation of art
• To serve as an advisory body in matters of professional interest in the province of Ontario.

Our Vision of the Future

The Ontario Association of Art Galleries (OAAG) will be an essential and sustainable art service organization serving Public Art galleries.

OAAG will be recognized as a leader in Canada’s cultural sector, whose voice is respected and trusted by stakeholders. OAAG will be enterprising in its delivery of services that members value.  It will enable member connections through a state of the art digital platform. Members will be in ongoing contact with each other, to share resources and to develop the capacity of each individual and organization. OAAG and its partners will provide relevant, groundbreaking professional development courses to members.  

Our long term vision is when our members and the entire public art gallery sector are thriving, art galleries will be contributing to the well-being of their communities through innovation and inspirations to move beyond the status quo. The art gallery as a site of learning will be at the centre of civic conversations, fostering curiosity and understanding. Galleries of all sizes occupy beautiful, functional facilities (physical and virtual) that inspire and display new creative forms. Galleries are sustainable because they are supported by members of the community and all levels of government.  

Our Mission

Through advocacy, professional development, and network-building, OAAG advances and empowers Ontario public art galleries.

OAAG gratefully acknowledges the financial support of its members, donors, corporate sponsors.

 

 

_______________________________________

Statistical Profile of Art Galleries in Ontario

The Statistical Profile of Art Galleries in Ontario is a quantitative analysis of 47 Ontario-based, non-profit and charitable art galleries in 31 municipalities across the province. The report presents a clear picture of Ontario’s public art galleries as incredible dynamic, motivated and engaged visual arts producers, working all across the province – from Thunder Bay to Temiskaming Shores to Ottawa to Toronto to Windsor and back to Owen Sound.

Order a copy of the 2013 OAAG Data Exchange here. For more information visit our publications page.