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AGO Dances into Fall with Exciting Performances, Exhibitions and Talks

08/23/2025
TorontoTimes

Live performances, Fall For Dance North, artmaking and talks inspired by David Blackwood and Joyce Wieland highlight AGO’s exciting fall lineup 2025

TORONTO, August 23, 2025 — From homegrown video games to artist talks, maker nights, and theatricals, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) lights up every Friday night this fall for Toronto’s perfect night out. One of the GTA’s most affordable destinations, with free admission for all Ontarians under 25 and the innovative $40 Annual Pass program, the AGO offers inspiring things to make, see, and do for all ages.

“Inspired by the great art on view this fall, Walker Court comes alive every Friday Night, a creative living room for our city,” says Robert Durocher, Richard & Elizabeth Currie Chief, Education & Programming, AGO. “The lineup of artists participating, both local and international, is truly inspiring and we welcome Torontonians of all ages to see, taste, and try something new with us.” 

“The Art Gallery of Ontario is a world-class institution that inspires, educates, and is deeply innovative in its approach to art and culture,” said Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. “With a collection of 120,000 works of art, from Canadian classics to European masterpieces to works by established and emerging Indigenous artists, the AGO constantly finds new ways to engage visitors of all ages and interests. I encourage everyone to visit and experience the new fall exhibits and enjoy the many opportunities to celebrate art and creativity in all their forms. There is something for everyone at the AGO.”

For a full list of all upcoming AGO events and programs, visit ago.ca/events. AGO Members and Annual Pass holders receive discounts on select programs. For more information on how to become a Member or Annual Pass holder, visit ago.ca/membership/become-a-member.

Live Performances

  • On Friday, September 26 at 7 p.m., Wednesday, November 5 at 7 p.m., and Sunday, January 4 at 2 p.m., Toronto theatre luminaries Tanja Jacobs and Kristen Thompson present A Fairy Tale for Joyce. Commissioned by the AGO, and developed through improvisation, this unique theatrical experience will be performed inside Joyce Wieland: Heart On and is free with General Admission. For more details, visit ago.ca/events/fairytale-joyce. 
  • On Saturday, October 25 and Sunday, October 26, the AGO and Fall for Dance North present Story Creatures, an immersive new dance performance conceived by Toronto artist Kate Hilliard. Set to music and staged inside Joyce Wieland: Heart On, this seven-hour durational installation will be performed in one-hour shifts with a rotating cast. This performance is free with General Admission and for all Fall for Dance North Festival ticket holders. For more details, visit ago.ca/events/kate-hilliard-story-creatures.
  • On Friday, November 14 at 7 p.m., and Saturday, November 15 at 2 p.m., join us in Walker Court as the AGO marks the Centennial of Robert Rauschenberg’s birth by spotlighting his collaboration with the renowned choreographer Merce Cunningham. Dancers from the Merce Cunningham Trust will present excerpts from dance pieces Changeling (1957), Antic Meet (1958), Story (1963), and XOVER (2007), with live piano accompaniment. This performance is supported by a grant from the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation and is presented in association with the AGO original exhibition Moments in Modernism, featuring Rauschenberg’s related Combine painting Story (1963). For more details, visit ago.ca/events/celebrating-rauschenbergs-centennial-merce-cunningham-trust. 

Friday Maker Nights

  • On Friday, September 5 at 6 p.m., Walker Court presses play on Video Games Arts Appreciation Night, an interactive celebration of Canadian-made video games and makers. Featuring nine playable video game stations, this event is free with General Admission. For more details, visit ago.ca/events/video-game-arts-appreciation-night. 
  • On Friday, September 19 at 6 p.m., Toronto needlecraft studio The Neon Needle presents quilt making inspired by Joyce Wieland: Heart On. Learn essential hand-sewing techniques and create your own quilt block to take home. This hands-on activity is suitable for all ages, and materials are provided. Free with General Admission. For more details, visit ago.ca/events/rebel-quilt-exploring-needlecraft-textiles-personal-expression-and-resistance-through-art. 
  • On Friday, December 5 at 6 p.m. join us in Walker Court for Winter Wonderland Village, as visitors come together to create a cozy cityscape of glowing houses using papercraft and LED lights. Materials are provided. Free with General Admission. For more details, visit ago.ca/events/winter-village-maker-program. 

Special Events

  • On Thursday, September 25, Art Bash, the AGO’s signature fundraising gala, returns. Canada’s preeminent art party, presented by Tricon, and featuring VIP event sponsor RBC Capital Markets and Entertainment Sponsor Intact Financial, this year’s event is co-chaired by Consuelo Jackman, Trinity Jackman, and Victoria Jackman. Tickets are on sale now. For more information, visit ago.ca/art-bash-2025.
  • On Wednesday, October 15 at 2 p.m., the AGO welcomes Robert Hall and Stuart Sargent for a discussion about the more than 200 Chinese Snuff Bottles in the Thomson Collection of European Art. Artist Xinpeng Wang will present a live demonstration of inside painting technique. Advanced tickets are required. For more details, visit ago.ca/events/public-talks-chinese-snuff-bottles-thomson-collection.
  • Continuing through December 9, 2025, the AGO’s innovative Art Rate Monitor highlights how your heart reacts to the art. The Art Rate Monitor experience is included with General Admission and is available for visitors of all ages on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information visit ago.ca/art-rate-monitor. 

Film Series

  • Beginning Monday, October 20, 2025, the AGO, TIFF Cinematheque and AD HOC present Jigs and Reels: The Complete Films of Joyce Wieland, a retrospective film series celebrating the Canadian artist. Screenings will take place at Innis Town Hall and the TIFF Lightbox. TIFF Cinematheque screenings are free for TIFF Members and tickets will be available Wednesday, September 24 at 10 a.m. Tickets for the public go on sale Friday, September 26 at 10 a.m.  Innis Town Hall screenings are free with no advanced tickets required. For more details and full schedule, visit ago.ca/exhibitions/joyce-wieland-heart#jigs-and-reels-the-films-of-joyce-wieland. 

Talks & Openings 

Dine and Drink at the AGO

  • AGO Speakeasy: Returning September 10 and running every subsequent Wednesday and Friday through October 31, the AGO historic Grange library transforms into a classic speakeasy serving AGO 125 themed cocktails and small bites. Seatings start at 6 p.m. Reservations open now at ago.ca/events/speakeasy-evening-grange-library-fall.  
  • Cocktail Night at the Grange: Beginning Wednesday, September 10 and running every subsequent Wednesday and Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. through October 31, the AGO invites visitors to grab an AGO 125 cocktail and small bite at the Norma Ridley Members’ Lounge. Reservations are now open at ago.ca/events/cocktail-night-grange-house.  
  • Brunch Club: On Saturday, September 20, Saturday, October 18 and Saturday, November 15 at 11:30 a.m., the AGO presents a unique twist to the weekend classic – guided art instruction and conversation followed by a prix-fix brunch menu. Gallery admission, sketching supplies, coffee/tea and pastry, and brunch prix fixe included in the fee. AGO Members and Annual Pass holders receive a discount. To register, visit ago.ca/events/brunch-club.
  • Drawing.Drinks.Social: On Friday, September 5, October 3, November 7 and December 5 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., join us for an evening of conversation and artmaking over drinks, led by an AGO artist-instructor. Gallery admission, sketching supplies, and a cocktail included in the fee. AGO Members and Annual Pass holders receive a discount. For more details and to register, visit ago.ca/events/drawing.-drinks.-social.

@AGOToronto | #SeeAGO

ABOUT THE AGO 

Located in Toronto, the Art Gallery of Ontario is one of the largest art museums in North America, attracting approximately one million visitors annually. The AGO Collection of more than 120,000 works of art ranges from cutting-edge contemporary art to significant works by Indigenous and Canadian artists to European masterpieces. The AGO is embarking on the seventh expansion project undertaken since it was founded in 1900. When completed the Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery will increase exhibition space for the museum’s growing modern and contemporary collection and reflect the people who call Toronto home. With its groundbreaking Annual Pass program, the AGO is one of the most affordable and accessible attractions in the GTA.

Visit ago.ca to learn more.

lead photo AV Live: Lush Landscapes. Photo © AGO.

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