Mayor Jim Watson to re-open the Ottawa Art Gallery

Press Release

Ottawa ON, June 2nd, 2020 – The Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG) is pleased to welcome the public back through its doors starting Thursday July 9th, 2020. Admission to OAG remains free, but everyone is asked to pre-book a time slot to visit the Gallery either online or by phone. Measures are in place in order to keep visitors and staff healthy and safe.

Mayor Jim Watson has already booked his time and will be the first, along with healthcare professionals from The Ottawa Hospital, to visit the Ottawa Art Gallery, following a temporary closure of 117 days, on Wednesday July 8th, a special day reserved for all frontline workers.

“After 18 weeks of being temporarily closed due to COVID-19, the Ottawa Art Gallery is thrilled to announce it is reopening! The last few weeks have been dedicated to ensuring safety and cleaning measures are in place, and we are ready to welcome you back to the art. Our first day will be dedicated exclusively for our healthcare professionals and frontline workers who have continued to keep us healthy and safe during the last few months.”
– Alexandra Badzak, Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ottawa Art Gallery

Through quick and safe mobilization, OAG is delighted to take part in the reopening of the local and tourism economy in collaboration with the City of Ottawa, Ottawa Tourism, Ottawa Hospital, the Downtown Rideau BIA and other partners, offering a welcoming, safe social space in Ottawa’s downtown core.

“I am very pleased to see the Ottawa Art Gallery open its doors to all Ottawa residents on July 9. The OAG is a cultural epicentre for Ottawa and its reopening is a major step in reopening our downtown.”
– Mathieu Fleury, Ottawa City Councillor, Rideau-Vanier Ward

“Ottawa Tourism is enlisting the support of Ottawans as the first ones to help get Ottawa’s tourism industry back on its feet. With the Ottawa Art Gallery’s doors reopening to the public, together, we are sending a message that our city is ready to embrace, engage and kick-start our recovery.  As a way to rediscover our city and start spending money again at local tourism businesses, including the OAG, we are promoting the #MyOttawa Pass initiative particularly at a time when every dollar and visit counts. “
– Michael Crockatt, President and CEO, Ottawa Tourism

OAG has put every measure in place for the public to ensure enjoyable, safe visits, with controlled flow, based on recommendations from the City of Ottawa. To visit the Gallery, visitors must book a free time slot online and register once onsite, with their e-ticket or printed version in hand. Walk-ins are not currently possible. Morning timeslot from 10 AM to noon are reserved for seniors and immunocompromised visitors. Wearing a mask is strongly recommended and visitors are asked to use the 10 Daly OAG entrance to enter and leave the building. Media and the public is invited to visit this page to view other important information to plan their visit.

OAG Exhibitions dates have been extended. 리듬풍경 RhythmScape will run until January 3rd, 2021, Russell Yuristy: The Inside of Elephants and All Kinds of Things and Jennifer Dickson: The Credo Project will now continue until February 7th, 2021, and the Firestone Gallery exhibition (Re)Collecting the Group of Seven: Celebrating 100 Years is extended until November 7th, 2021. Galerie Annexe will be showing a selection of works available for rental or purchase.

Press images

(Re)Collecting the Group of Seven: Celebrating 100 Years artworks and captions:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4pf3yrollluz7yk/AABHiIkR2_kPTzC-JiOmhLXta?dl=0

리듬풍경 RhythmScape artworks and captions:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rhbggtfaljc82ht/AABDuhQ-hhcHWQY2OFd8RRuWa?dl=0

Russell Yuristy: The Inside of Elephants and All Kinds of Things artworks and captions:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/x9ibrrlewauxpxt/AAAKQxQZh9kVfmx3dqMn7INoa?dl=0

Jennifer Dickson: The Credo Project artworks and captions:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/dvrzlncqsibqh7x/AADk2Em5DcfF_OQUluuCjEHua?dl=0

OAG location and contact
50 Mackenzie King Bridge, Ottawa, ON, K1N 0C5, CANADA | 613.233.8699 | info@oaggao.ca

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For media enquiries, to book an interview or a tour, please contact:
Véronique Couillard
Officer, Media, Public and Francophone Relations
vcouillard@oaggao.ca
613-291-1358

About the Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG)
OAG is Ottawa’s municipal art gallery and cultural hub. Located in Ottawa’s downtown core, the expanded Gallery is a contemporary luminous cube designed by KPMB Architects and Régis Côté et associés.

oaggao.ca

OAG receives funding from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council and the City of Ottawa.