AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario) - World class museum ... to be.
We've been to AGO 8 times now since we arrived here because one of the first things we do when we move to a new city is to become members of the local galleries, museums, professional associations, etc and try to integrate as quickly as possible. Last thing we want to do is not know where to go or not have friends seven (7) months from arrival.
Museum layout - simple box (for now) with two levels but hopefully much better when the Frank Gehry upgrades are completed. We've seen Andy Warhol's as well as Adams/Eisenstaedt collections. We've seen the Henry Moore collection and have compared their presentation to the major pieces in the States. Not sure who decided to have the pole dancing design in all four walls but we thought that was a bit tasteless considering that some of the pieces were clearly mother and child. 
Having the pole dancing interspersed with these pieces are a bit of a concern.
Now with the Kim Adams Swing Space, we love open spaces but the pieces here are quite sparse. Maybe contact the local artists to have a more revolving set of pieces? We've seen the same things over and over again. Enough already! The wall swing spaces are being utilized much better.
In your face - we love this second floor exhibit wherein would-be artists (mostly kids it seems) would draw on a postcard size medium what they look like. Normally done in crayons but it seems that this was a school project at one point and portrait like drawings and other mediums were used - hair, colored paper, paints... I was hoping what I've drawn and dropped in the box would be picked up months after but nope, went back today and nada! my drawing wasn't a winner. Then again, it makes me want to keep coming back to check - so maybe a ploy to get people to return eh? hmmm... i like it.
Podcast on the culture city - new buildings in Toronto - is informative though the podcast itself doesn't always run properly - what's up with that?
The Future Now Section can be moving. I especially liked the Praying Mother in Marble which always makes me sad. Edward enjoys the big hamburger made of foam that greets you when you arrive at this section's 2nd floor entrance.
The AGO Library has weird open hours. I love the idea of seeing the sketches of Rembrandt considering we've been to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam (which btw IS a World Class Museum - even their website is fabulous!). Wearing white gloves to see aged pieces is amazingly high-class but the attitude of the volunteers in that library needs to be a bit adjusted.
The AGO restaurant has to be upgraded... and the service? inconsistent. Sometimes they are nice and quick - when there's more than 3 tables being serviced, but sometimes they are slooooow - when you're the only occupied table . The food? Bordering on experimental. They need to have a revolving menu if they want us to keep coming back until they determine which are the more popular ones to keep. The MOMA has Cafe 2 and Terrace 5 (The Carroll and Milton Petrie Café) - with a menu that includes artisinal chocolate (always have something chocolaty especially when there are kids around - 'coz you just want them to roam around some more in your museum right? actually grown ups love 'em too - the chocolate... oh and some like the kids too!).
The AGO Store has some nice pieces but need to have a more helpful cashier. I asked about cufflinks and the guy said "what you see is what we have" and moved on to the next client (there were only two clients in the whole store!). Now how about a good working online store? And while the AGO website designers are at it - how about creating e-cards? Don't you want your museum to be promoted without you doing anything? I would. I shop at the MOMA online store often and I could very well just walk to the store but being used to living in a deliver-to-me city, why not just get the nice art pieces delivered to your doorstep as well so you can concentrate on more important matters? Like talking about the museum itself to your friends?
Not in Toronto? Before you visit, check the AGO construction by clicking here for the live cam.
Ok, so is AGO of World Class rating in presentation? service? food? exhibits? floor plan? color schemes? that 'x' factor? With some changes, we think it will be. And we think they're going in the right direction - don't wait until it's done, be a part of it now or become a member while the rates are still low! If I know anything about marketing and fundraising, someone has to pay for all these changes, it will be YOU so entrance fees and costs will go up when its all nice and pretty (much like the MOMA) so become a member now.. because ART MATTERS!
We'll keep an eye on AGO and we will let you know if they are ready for the WCR rating upgrade!
