Open until 9 p.m. every Friday, the AGO is the perfect place to start your weekends with happy hour specials and hundreds of perfect selfie spots
TORONTO – Resolved to change up your routine in 2020? Shed those winter shivers and bask in the warm glow of the AGO on Friday evenings until 9 p.m. No matter the occasion – date night, Galentine’s Day, or a bit of self-care after a long week – the AGO is the perfect cozy destination to mix things up this winter, alive with vibrant art, delicious drinks and exciting programming. It’s easy to make it a regular habit; admission to the AGO is always free for AGO Members and all visitors 25 and under, and holders of the $35 AGO Annual Pass.
Meet at AGO Bistro for cocktail specials and small bites during Happy Hour from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. There’s still time to get in on Winter Warm-Up, an artful two-course meal paired with a glass of wine, running to Jan. 31, 2020. Or simply grab a coffee at the Espresso Bar in Galleria Italia, open till 7 p.m. An architectural marvel of glass and wood, it’s the perfect spot for a selfie at sunset as you unwind for the weekend or get revved up for a fun night ahead.
Up your game at the Monday watercooler chat by visiting one of the AGO’s current exhibitions, including the acclaimed Hito Steyerl: This is the future and the compelling installations of Sandra Brewster: Blur. And don’t forget the AGO’s vast collections, which offer more than enough to see something different each time you pop by.
If you’re visiting friends or family on the weekend and need the perfect gift, stop into shopAGO for unique and locally crafted items from Toronto artists and craftspeople. On until Feb. 16, 2020, don’t miss Everyday Gemstones: Colourful stone from the Andes, a special installation by D.A.R. projects. Featured as part of the DesignTO Festival, it’s just one of many artist-led projects to be found in-store and online at shopAGO.
A 20-minute walk from Union Station and located just west of St. Patrick Station on Line 1, the AGO is a fully accessible destination, so not too much stomping through the snow is required. Once you arrive, there are lots of things to experience on Friday nights throughout the winter.
Nothing says cozy Friday like a movie night, and the AGO has titles that are hard to find anywhere else. On Jan. 31, 2020, screenings of Citizenfour (6:30 p.m.) and The Oath (8 p.m.) are offered up in the AGO’s Jackman Hall.
Don’t miss the next installment of the monthly Art & Ideas: Drawing. Drinks. Social, happening on Feb. 6, 2020. Perfect for those of who resolved to try something new in 2020, this workshop is led by an art instructor and starts in AGO Bistro with a cocktail and tapas, before heading out into the galleries for guided drawing lessons.
Make a memory with loved ones this Valentine’s Day (or get away from all the romantic hype) with a visit to Yayoi Kusama’sINFINITY MIRROR ROOM: LET’S SURVIVE FOREVER. Free with admission, and timed-entry reservations can be booked on site. The last entry on Friday evenings is 8:45 p.m.
Get to know the late, legendary photographer Diane Arbus on Feb. 21, 2020, with a very special screening of A Slideshow and Talk by Diane Arbus. Originally recorded in 1970, this narrated slideshow features the artist discussing her own works, as well as photographs, snapshots and clippings from her personal collection. Screenings take place at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. in Jackman Hall.
What is the subversive potential of the selfie? Find out this and more by booking your free tickets now for a conversation with NYC photographer and filmmaker Hobbes Ginsberg, happening on Feb. 28, 2020, at 7 p.m.
Visit www.AGO.ca for more details on these events and more, in addition to current and upcoming exhibitions.
ABOUT THE AGO
Located in Toronto, Canada’s largest city of 5.9 million, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is one of the largest art museums in North America. The AGO Collection of close to 95,000 works ranges from cutting-edge contemporary art to significant works by Indigenous and Canadian artists and European masterpieces. The AGO presents wide-ranging exhibitions and programs, taking special care to showcase diverse and underrepresented artists. Its 585,000 square foot building was most recently expanded in 2008 by Frank Gehry, and attracts approximately one million visits per year. A new admission model launched in May, 2019 offers all visitors 25 and under free, unlimited admission; a $35 Annual Pass includes entry for an entire year. Visit AGO.ca to learn more.
The AGO is funded in part by the Ontario Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. 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.
