HME visits the AGB!

Yesterday was HME's first behind-the-scenes visit to a member's institution.

The AGB kindly hosted a 1.5 hour tour of its building. We got to see various spaces, learn about the history of their use and discuss some successes and challenges:

• Exhibition space with newly added education program space and uncarpeted flooring
• Loading dock / Storage space: practicalities of movable shelving with very fragile pieces
• Did you know: the AGB has been collecting ceramics for 35 years, from functional to decorative?
• Programming spaces 
• City owns land, but AGB owns the building
• Every Sunday is open studio: Space at the back has entrance to park; beautiful in summer time, inviting for visitors and new visitors
• Beautiful big windows bring in lots of light!
• Shop: represents all guilds, members can rent art

Victor Cicansky. "Delectable Dish of Strawberries". 1988.

• Community gallery: used to be a cafe. Didn't get a lot of traffic. Now, it's for emerging artists, community themes, community groups
• Rental space: large open room, windows, facing lakefront
• Greenhouse: with plants to purchase!

• Guilds: become a gallery member, then a guild fee. Get to use the space, bring your own tools and material. Can be a newbie or an expert
• There are kiln techs at the AGB
• Sculptors and woodcarvers space: it's packed Tuesday and Thursday mornings!
• Photography space: have a full dark room
• Challenge: new use for traditional spaces
• Challenge: what systems do you use to coordinate space usage?
• Successes: AGB partnered with RBG for summer camps. Don't have space for kids to run and jump, but RBG does
• In conjunction with Canada 150, they're holding a Canadian Craft Biennial

Mary Philpott. "Crow". 2016

It was such a beautiful day, we all decided to walk over to the restaurant for dinner; there, we had a great space to speak and expand on some of the topics that arose from our tour.

THANK YOU to everyone who came; and many thanks to our generous hosts at the AGB!

If you are an HME member and would like to host a behind-the-scenes visit, please contact one of the HME coordinators here.