The Government of Canada’s contribution supports the reimagining of the permanent galleries, including a new Indigenous gallery space, and the establishment of a Community Learning Centre

Toronto—The Gardiner Museum is pleased to announce the support of the Government of Canada for its largest capital project in 20 years—a full-scale transformation of the Museum’s ground floor based on the principles of access, connectivity, and Indigeneity.

The Government of Canada’s contribution of $705,260, issued through the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, supports the reimagining of the Gardiner’s permanent collection galleries, including the addition of a gallery of Indigenous ceramics, as well as the establishment of a Community Learning Centre, a new programming and events space that will bring better visibility to the Museum’s education initiatives. An open hub for looking, learning, and connecting, the Community Learning Centre will host public programs and offer new display opportunities for the collection and community projects.

“The Gardiner Museum is grateful to the Government of Canada for this vital support as we embark on the next phase of the Museum’s evolution, bringing our physical space in line with our mission of building community with clay. This investment recognizes the Gardiner’s unique and important role as a site for artistic engagement and hands-on learning, both within our city and beyond,” said Gabrielle Peacock, Executive Director & CEO at the Gardiner Museum.

The Gardiner’s transformation project, first announced in September 2023, will allow the Museum to highlight the cross-cultural history of ceramics and showcase the ways in which contemporary artists are using the medium in new and exciting ways.

The project also advances the Gardiner’s commitment to reconciliation through the establishment of a permanent gallery space for Indigenous ceramics, developed by Franchesca Hebert-Spence, Curator of Indigenous Ceramics at the Gardiner Museum, and designed by Chris Cornelius of studio:indigenous, in consultation with the Gardiner’s Indigenous Advisory Circle: Mary Anne Barkhouse, Kent Monkman, Andre Morrisseau, Duke Redbird, and Tekaronhiáhkhwa / Santee Smith.

“Our government recognizes the significance of supporting the Gardiner Museum’s renovation and revitalization efforts. This investment will be preserving and enhancing the Museum’s permanent collection galleries while dedicating a new space to showcase the vibrant heritage of Indigenous ceramics. Moreover, the creation of the Community Learning Centre will open doors to greater engagement and learning opportunities for all,” said the Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage.

Construction on the project began in July 2024 and is anticipated to be completed by October 2025.

Visit gardinermuseum.com/fromthegroundup for more information.

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The Gardiner Museum is situated on the ancestral and traditional territories of many nations, including the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples, and is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. It is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. As a museum that celebrates the material of the earth, the Gardiner Museum is committed to honouring Indigenous peoples’ cultural and spiritual connections to the land. Reconciliation is central to our work as a museum, and we strive to celebrate Indigenous knowledge and creativity through our collections, exhibitions, and programming.

ABOUT THE GARDINER MUSEUM

The Gardiner Museum brings together people of all ages and communities through the shared values of creativity, wonder, and community that clay and ceramic traditions inspire.

We engage audiences with exhibitions, programs, and hands-on classes, while stewarding a significant permanent collection. We interpret historical ceramics to emphasize their relevance today, and champion emerging and established Canadian artists and their role in the broader world. We innovate through clay education, as we bring together the experience of making with a deeper understanding of the art of ceramics.

We believe in making, looking, and thinking through clay.

The Gardiner Museum has a collection of over 5,000 objects from the Ancient Americas, Europe, Japan and China, as well as contemporary works with an emphasis on leading Canadian artists. The Gardiner Museum is among the few museums in the world focused on ceramics and is one of the world’s most notable specialty museums.

For more information, please visit: gardinermuseum.com.

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Media Contact:
Rachel Weiner
Senior Manager, Marketing
Gardiner Museum
416.408.5062
[email protected]