A $2 million federal grant is helping fuel the Agnes Reimagined project, transforming the Agnes Etherington Art Centre into Canada’s largest university museum.
The Agnes Reimagined project kicked off construction on March 29, following the $75 million donation from Bader Philanthropy Inc. Once completed, the museum will see a 200 per cent increase in size, making it the largest university museum in Canada according to the Gazette.
The redevelopment aims to make Agnes a “home” for all by introducing a 250-person capacity ground floor welcome centre, a café, bedrooms for live-in artists, an outdoor medicinal garden, a new exterior look, and more.
READ MORE: Agnes Etherington Art Centre to undergo $100M transformation into dream art house
The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF), managed by the Department of Canadian Heritage, provides funding opportunities for projects that reflect Canada’s culture. The objective of the fund is to increase the physical conditions for arts and heritage pieces and increase access to art for under-represented and equity-deserving groups in their community.
In a press release on the Agnes website, the minister of Canadian Heritage, Pascale St‑Onge, outlined the importance of this donation as well as Canada’s overall goal with the CCSF.
“Investing in cultural hubs is more than just financial ; it’s a testament to our belief in the power of arts and culture to transform lives and communities.”
“The new Indigenous artist residency and the creation of three new presentation spaces within the historic Etherington House will strengthen community ties between AGNES and the community and encourage socially engaged and innovative projects,” St-Onge said.
In a statement to the Gazette, Agnes’s Director and Curator Emelie Chhangur echoed her gratitude for the donation and its symbolic importance.
“We are thrilled to welcome Canadian Heritage on our journey of transformation. This $2M commitment is validating, as it signals that together we can ensure the cultural institutions of Canada’s future will no longer be those of Canada’s colonial past,” Chhangur said.
The museum will put a spotlight on decolonization, with Western and Indigenous worldviews being displayed side by side, as equals. Additionally, Agnes emphasized the design process considered voices from the local community, using four talking circles that were open to community .
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