Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Government Ontario says it is contributing as much as $50 million over three years to update and expand the McMichael Canadian Art Collection facility and grounds in Kleinburg.
“The McMichael Canadian Art Collection celebrates the Canadian and Indigenous experience, with our culture, history and heritage expressed through art,” Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, said in a statement. “Our government’s investment will help McMichael modernize and grow, protect the gallery’s $750 million collection and secure the institution’s status as a world class cultural tourism attraction for generations to come.
“Now more than ever, it’s important that we support Canadian culture and the institutions that preserve and promote our shared history and collective identity.”
Ontario’s capital funding in the McMichael is the first in 43 years and will go to repairs and upgrades of the 70-year-old building, increasing the capacity for its existing programs, meetings and special events and ensuring it remains a safe and must-visit destination for arts and culture for years to come.
“All of us at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection are deeply inspired by the Province of Ontario’s visionary support of our project and it has been a true pleasure to work with them as we have moved toward this moment,” said Sarah Milroy, executive director and chief curator at McMichael. “In the coming years, we will be restoring and revitalizing this national treasure, ensuring its long-term sustainability and prosperity for the benefit of all Canadians.
“In a time when our nation seeks spaces to come together, the McMichael is that place – a place to share our stories, embrace our differences and celebrate the connections between us.”
The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is the largest publicly funded art gallery that focuses exclusively on Canadian and Indigenous art, with a permanent collection of more than 7,000 artworks by Tom Thomson, the Group of Seven and their contemporaries, as well as First Nations, Métis, Inuit and contemporary artists who have contributed to the development of the art of Canada.
The museum provides a visual experience of the country’s rich history, exhibiting the diverse perspectives of Canadians and Indigenous peoples.