About Us
Mandate & History
The Art Museum is comprised of the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery (Hart House) and the University of Toronto Art Centre (University College). Located just a few steps apart, the two galleries were federated in 2014 and began operating under a new visual identity as the Art Museum at the University of Toronto, one of the largest gallery spaces for visual art exhibitions and programming in Toronto.
Building on the two galleries’ distinguished histories, the Art Museum organizes and presents an intensive year-round program of exhibitions and events that foster — at a local, regional, and international level — innovative research, interdisciplinary scholarship, and knowledge of art and its histories befitting Canada’s leading university and the country’s largest city.
The Art Museum’s programs are distinguished by:
- fostering emerging artists and curators through mentorship, experiential learning opportunities, and in collaboration with academic programs and studies across disciplines;
- developing histories and knowledge of contemporary art and artists at a local and international level;
- supporting original and experimental curatorial statements and positions;
- and featuring interdisciplinary projects on critical subjects or thematic concerns relevant in contemporary culture.
Staff List
General Information
416-978-1838
artmuseum@utoronto.ca
Executive Director / Chief Curator
Barbara Fischer
barbara.fischer@utoronto.ca
416-978-2453
Curator
Sarah Robayo Sheridan
s.robayosheridan@utoronto.ca
416-978-2453
Adjunct Curator
John G. Hampton
director@agsm.ca
204-727-1273
Program Coordinator
Rebecca Gimmi
rebecca.gimmi@utoronto.ca
416-978-8463
Business & Programs Coordinator
Maureen Smith
maureen.smith@utoronto.ca
416-946-7089
Collections Manager
Heather Darling Pigat
heather.pigat@utoronto.ca
416-946-7090
Exhibitions Coordinator
Esther Simmonds-MacAdam
esther.simmonds.macadam@utoronto.ca
416-946-3029
Communications Assistant
Brittany Brooks
b.brooks@utoronto.ca
416-946-7015
Collections Assistant*
Olivia Chlebicki
olivia.chlebicki@utoronto.ca
416-978-8017
Public Programs Assistant*
Melina Sabeti-Mehr
melina.sabeti.mehr@utoronto.ca
416-978-5488
Gallery Attendant
Chiara Cavaliere
chiara.cavaliere@utoronto.ca
416-946-8687
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*Funding for this position has been made possible in part through a contribution from the from the Young Canada Works in Heritage Organizations program, Department of Canadian Heritage. The Canadian Museums Association administers the museum component of the YCW program on behalf of the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Advisory Board
Mimi Joh, Chair
Jeanine Barnicke
Liora Belford
Jessica Bradley
Elizabeth Legge
Richard Sommer
Carlos Yep
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Ex Officio Members
Donald C. Ainslie
Principal, University College, University of Toronto
Barbara Fischer
Executive Director/Chief Curator, University of Toronto Art Centre
John F. Monahan
Warden, Hart House, University of Toronto
Sandy Welsh
Vice- Provost Students & First -Entry Divisions, University of Toronto
Opportunities
As a university-based institution and steward of nationally significant art collections we are deeply engaged in mentorship, education, training, and experiential learning opportunities for students, emerging professionals and volunteers.
For Artists
Exhibition Proposals
The Art Museum accepts artists’ submissions in the form of printed material and digital images for research purposes only. Materials will not be returned.
OAC Exhibition Assistance Program
The Art Museum is a sanctioned Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Assistance Grant Recommender Organization for Region 3.
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The program provides grants of $500 to $1,500 to assist individual artists with costs related to presenting their work for an exhibition.
Due July 15 and November 15 or the next business day if on a weekend. Applications are reviewed after each due date as a group. Responses sent within 6 weeks of the deadlines.
Applications and guidelines are available through the Ontario Arts Council.
Media Room
For more information, images, or to join the Art Museum’s media list, please contact Brittany Brooks.
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For Art Museum media releases, click here.
Venue Rental
Centrally located in the core of downtown Toronto in the picturesque heart of the historic University of Toronto St. George campus the Art Museum is a vital cultural destination. Bring your event to where the city and the university meet to encounter, think, learn, and talk about art.
Gracious gallery spaces are the platform for award- winning exhibitions of contemporary art as well as the jewel-like permanent Malcove Collection gallery.
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Here’s just some of what we can offer:
Academic and Student Group Events: conferences, lectures, workshops, post-lecture receptions
Corporate Events: networking events, press conferences, workshops
Social Events: receptions, seated dining