2023 A Year of Celebrations

Dear friends, colleagues and supporters;

It is hard to believe that in the spring of 2018, OAG opened the doors to its new facility. Although the pandemic affected the momentum of those first, successful years, there is much to celebrate during our 5th Anniversary.

We have seen a million people through our doors, we featured over 600 artists, acquired more than 400 artworks, and toured exhibitions from Tunisia to Thunder Bay. We have substantially increased funds to artists through exhibition production support, featured digital content and mentorships and have celebrated the work of underrepresented artists. We have worked with over 350 local and national partners and presented new stories through community-based initiatives like the Herongate project. We have weighed into civic challenges through our wellness programming and the TRIAS Art Prize Program and ultimately proved that a public art gallery can be an anchor and a hub for our city.

All this good work will continue into 2023 with an amazing array of new exhibitions, programs and anniversary initiatives, beginning with two exhibitions in the Firestone Gallery, focusing on our recent historical acquisitions and on the short but extraordinary life of Ottawa painter Wilfrid Flood. Stay tuned for more in the coming months and thanks for continuing to support your home for the arts, OAG!

Alexandra Badzak, Director and CEO