AGO Summer Camps go on sale February 4 to AGO Members and February 6 to Public
Family Day fun takes over February 14-17, with four days of dance parties with DJ OAKEVE, guided tours, storytime with author Nadia Khan, artmaking and more
TORONTO — The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) invites Toronto families to bust a move this winter with exciting all-ages programming inspired by the special exhibition The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century. A celebration of hip hop’s global impact on visual culture told through photography, video, painting and fashion, admission to the exhibition is free for all Ontarians under 25, Indigenous Peoples, AGO Members and Annual Pass holders.
February is Black History Month and the AGO salutes Black creativity all month long, including dance lessons, breakdancing battles and an epic four-day Family Day event exploring the many aspects of hip hop. For more details and a complete list of Black History Month events, visit //ago.ca/black-history-month.
“The AGO celebrates Black creativity throughout the year and this winter is no exception, as the AGO welcomes families to discover together the many ways that hip hop has influenced our visual culture – from fashion to dance to language,” said Robert Durocher,Richard and Elizabeth Currie Chief, Education and Programming. “Creative play is an essential part of well-being, and we’ve expanded our Family Day programming to four days, with even more opportunities for movement, making and learning – all free for Ontarians under 25.”
The AGO is open late on Wednesdays and Fridays until 9 p.m. and every Saturday and Sunday between 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., as well as select holiday Mondays. For a full list of courses and programs, visit //ago.ca/events.
Winter 2025 programming highlights for families: Family Weekends
Weekends are for families at the AGO, where admission is always free for AGO Members, Annual Pass holders, Indigenous Peoples, and Ontarians under 25! At the Dr. Mariano Elia Hands-On Centre, young learners can explore art-making activities, stories, and play-based learning between 10:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. No registration necessary. In Walker Court, AGO Art Carts provide visitors of all ages with free materials to make and do between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday.
Family Day Weekend at the AGO: February 14 – 17, 2025
Serving up four days of fun, the AGO celebrates Family Day weekend with an exploration of hip hop’s many forms, including artmaking, storytelling and dance. Events, including dance party with DJ OAKEVE and guided tours of The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century, will run daily between 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Toronto author Nadia Khan will lead storytelling in Galleria Italia daily at 11 a.m., and artist Rachel Joanis will create trading cards for kids to collect. Special family-friendly food offerings will be available at the AGO Bistro and Espresso Bar for purchase. All programs are included in General Admission and admission is always free for Ontarians under 25, Indigenous Peoples, AGO Members and Annual Pass holders. For more details, visit //AGO.ca/events/family-day-weekend.
March Break at the AGO: March 8 – 16, 2025
For nine days, AGO makes March Break an art break! Pick up a 125th museum anniversary edition AGO PLAY activity booklet at the entrance, and explore artmaking challenges, scavenger hunts, quizzes and games inspired by the AGO’s amazing art collection. From 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily, families can discover artmaking activities across the building and join our AGO x RBC Artist-In-Residence Laura Carwardine in Walker Court for collaborative creation. All programs are included in general admission and admission is always free for Ontarians under 25, Indigenous Peoples, AGO Members and Annual Pass holders. For a complete list of March Break programming, visit //ago.ca/events/march-break-2025.
Youth Programs
Beginning Wednesday, January 15 at 4 p.m. youth ages 14 to 25 are invited to join Canadian street dance team TogetherButDifferent (TBD) for free drop-in hp hop dance sessions in the Weston Family Learning Centre. No registration required. For more details, visit //ago.ca/events/miseducation-hip-hop-dance-tbd-crew.
On Friday, February 21 at 6:00 p.m., Canadian street dance team TogetherButDifferent presents a hip hop dance battle in Walker Court. Competition is open to all dancers aged 14 to 25, and the tournament will be judged by one of Canada’s top hip hop dancers. Free with General Admission. For more details, visit //ago.ca/events/togetherbutdifferent-2v2-hip-hop-dance-battle.
AGO Friday Nights
Toronto’s artful night out, the AGO stays up late every Friday till 9 p.m. with free things to make and do in Walker Court. Programs are free with general admission and no registration is required.
Get crafty with us as exhibition-inspired Maker Friday events take over Walker Court from 6 to 9 p.m. on January 17, March 21 and April 12. All materials are provided. For more details, visit, //ago.ca/events/maker-friday-culture.
Jade’s Hip Hop Academy transforms Walker Court into a dance hall on Friday, January 24 and Friday, February 28, from 6 to 9 p.m. with free dance classes, live performances and DJ sets. For more details, visit //ago.ca/events/dance-jades-hip-hop-academy-0.
Summer Art Camp 2025 Registration
Make it an artful summer! AGO art camp returns in 2025, offering nine weeks of artful adventures for children and youth aged five to 13, and an expanded youth leadership training program for ages 14 and 15. AGO members receive a discount on camps and enjoy early registration beginning February 4, 2025. Camps go on sale to everyone on February 6, 2025. A complete list of available camps will be available online in late January. For more details and to register, visit //ago.ca/learn/camps/summer-art-camp.
Courses
Studio art courses continue this winter for artists of all ages and skill levels at the Anne Tanenbaum Gallery School. Browse courses and one-day workshops inspired by current exhibitions and the AGO collection. Registration is open now for winter courses. Spring courses go onsale January 22, 2025 to AGO Members and will open to the general public on January 24 at //ago.ca/learn/courses-and-workshops. AGO Members receive a discount on courses. Course highlights include:
Making Together: Exploring Andy Warhol (ages 6-10 with adult)
Launching Saturday, January 11, this winter the AGO presents one-day workshops for children aged 6 to 10 and their caregivers, inspired by the art of Andy Warhol. Registration is for one child and one adult with all materials included. For more details, visit //ago.ca/learn/courses/making-together-exploring-andy-warhol-adult.
March Break Intensives
New this year for students ages 2-18 are intensive studio art classes and workshops during March Break (Tuesday March 11 – Friday March 14). Offerings include single and multiday workshops: Making Together: Printmaking (ages 2-5), Painting Together: Moments in Modernism (ages 6-10), Animals in Art (ages 6-7), Cartooning (ages 8-10), Paint It! (ages 11-13), Life Drawing (ages 14-18). Stay tuned for more details at //ago.ca/learn/courses.
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ABOUT THE AGO
Located in Toronto, the Art Gallery of Ontario is one of the largest art museums in North America, attracting approximately one million visitors annually. The AGO Collection of more than 120,000 works of art ranges from cutting-edge contemporary art to significant works by Indigenous and Canadian artists to European masterpieces. The AGO presents wide-ranging exhibitions and programs, including solo exhibitions and acquisitions by diverse and underrepresented artists from around the world. The AGO is embarking on the seventh expansion project undertaken since it was founded in 1900. When completed the Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery will increase exhibition space for the museum’s growing modern and contemporary collection and reflect the people who call Toronto home. With its groundbreaking Annual Pass program, the AGO is one of the most affordable and accessible attractions in the GTA. Visit ago.ca to learn more.
The AGO is funded in part by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. 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.
