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AGO Dances into Fall with Dynamic Fridays of Performance, Making, and Dialogue

AGO Fall Fridays: Performances, Art-making & Artist Talks at the AGO

AGO Dances into Fall with Dynamic Fridays of Performance, Making, and Dialogue

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September 5 – December 9, 2025
AGO, Walker Court

This autumn, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) invites Torontonians to immerse themselves in a vibrant Friday-night programme inspired by the art of David Blackwood and Joyce Wieland. Beginning in September and extending into the new year, Walker Court becomes a creative lounge buzzing with performances, hands-on art-making, films, and conversations—all designed to offer imaginative and welcoming ways to engage with art. With free admission for Ontarians under 25 and a $40 Annual Pass available, the AGO is committed to being an affordable cultural destination for all.

“Walker Court will bloom into a communal creative space every Friday night,” says Robert Durocher, the AGO’s Chief of Education & Programming. He notes that this season’s line-up of local and international artists is truly inspiring, aiming to attract visitors of all ages to explore, taste, and experiment with new forms of art together.

Stan Cho, Ontario’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, applauds the AGO’s innovation. He highlights the gallery’s extensive collection—spanning over 120,000 works, from Canadian and European to Indigenous art—and encourages everyone to explore fall exhibitions and the array of creative programs on offer.

Live Performances

AGO Fridays come alive with theatre, dance, and music that transform gallery spaces into performance stages. Each work connects directly to the exhibitions, offering fresh ways to experience art.

  • A Fairy Tale for Joyce presents Tanja Jacobs and Kristen Thompson in an improvised theatrical homage to Joyce Wieland’s work. Shows take place on Friday, September 26 at 7 p.m.; Wednesday, November 5 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, January 4 at 2 p.m., performed inside Joyce Wieland: Heart On and included with general admission. For more details, visitago.ca/events/fairytale-joyce.
  • Story Creatures, a durational dance installation by Kate Hilliard, unfolds across seven hours inside the same exhibition space on Saturday, October 25 and Sunday, October 26. Performed in rotating one-hour segments set to music, this work is free for all general attendees and festival ticket holders. For more details, visit ago.ca/events/kate-hilliard-story-creatures. 
  • To honour Robert Rauschenberg’s centenary, dancers from the Merce Cunningham Trust will perform excerpts from Changeling (1957), Antic Meet (1958), Story (1963), and XOVER (2007) in Walker Court with live piano accompaniment. These performances occur Friday, November 14 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, November 15 at 2 p.m., supported by the Rauschenberg Foundation and aligned with the Moments in Modernism exhibition, which includes Rauschenberg’s Story (1963). For more details, visit ago.ca/events/celebrating-rauschenbergs-centennial-merce-cunningham-trust.
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Maker Nights

Friday evenings invite visitors to roll up their sleeves and try something new. From quilting to paper villages, these workshops make creativity accessible and fun.

Special Events

Unique celebrations and cultural showcases punctuate the season with energy and flair. These one-time gatherings highlight art’s ability to bring people together.

  • Wednesday, September 25 sees the return of Art Bash, Canada’s most celebrated art gala, with Tricon presenting and RBC Capital Markets and Intact Financial as sponsors. For more information, visit ago.ca/art-bash-2025.
  • Wednesday, October 15 at 2 p.m., Robert Hall and Stuart Sargent explore the AGO’s Thomson Collection’s Chinese snuff bottles, featuring a live inside-painting demonstration by artist Xinpeng Wang. For more details, visit ago.ca/events/public-talks-chinese-snuff-bottles-thomson-collection.
  • Through December 9, the Art Rate Monitor invites visitors to witness how their heartbeats respond to artworks—a unique, emotion-tracking exhibit included with admission. For more information visit ago.ca/art-rate-monitor.
Film

The AGO’s film programs spotlight visionary creators and their cinematic legacies. Screenings link to exhibitions, extending the stories beyond the gallery walls.

  • From Monday, October 20, the AGO teams with TIFF Cinematheque and AD HOC for Jigs and Reels: The Complete Films of Joyce Wieland. Screenings at Innis Town Hall and TIFF Lightbox kick off with tickets available to the public from Friday, September 26 at 10 a.m., while Innis Town Hall entries remain free. For more details and full schedule, visit ago.ca/exhibitions/joyce-wieland-heart#jigs-and-reels-the-films-of-joyce-wieland.
Talks & Openings

Conversations with artists, curators, and cultural thinkers add insight to the gallery experience. Exhibition openings further spark dialogue, connecting audiences directly with creators.

  • September 3 at 7 p.m.: AA Bronson discusses his artistic practice in Baillie Court, part of Light Years: The Phil Lind Gift.
  • September 6 at 2 p.m.: Faye HeavyShield, alongside curator Georgiana Uhlyarik, opens her Issokawo’taan exhibition in a free event.
  • September 10 at 7 p.m.: Musa Mayer and Anders Bergstrom converse on Philip Guston’s legacy.
  • October 29 at 7 p.m.: Seamus O’Reagan and Alexa Greist explore the impact of David Blackwood.
  • November 7 at 7 p.m.: Adrian Stimson delivers the McCready Lecture on Canadian Art, free with advance tickets.
  • November 22 at 2 p.m.: Diana Weymar joins curators for a conversation on Joyce Wieland’s textiles.
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Dine & Drink

Evenings at the AGO extend beyond the galleries with cocktails and small bites at the stylish Speakeasy. It’s a chance to relax, socialise, and savour art in a new way.

  • AGO Speakeasy
    From September 10 to October 31, the historic Grange library transforms into a speakeasy with AGO 125-themed cocktails and bites. Seatings start at 6 p.m. Reservations: ago.ca/events/speakeasy-evening-grange-library-fall.
  • Cocktail Night at the Grange:
    Running Wednesdays and Fridays, September 10 through October 31, from 5:30–9 p.m., enjoy AGO 125 cocktails and bites in the Norma Ridley Members’ Lounge. Reservations: ago.ca/events/cocktail-night-grange-house.
  • Brunch Club:
    Saturdays September 20, October 18, and November 15 at 11:30 a.m., enjoy guided art instruction, conversation, coffee, pastry, and prix-fixe brunch. Members and Annual Pass discounts. Register: ago.ca/events/brunch-club.
  • Drawing.Drinks.Social:
    Fridays September 5, October 3, November 7, and December 5, 6–9 p.m., enjoy conversation, artmaking, and a cocktail with an AGO artist-instructor. Members/Pass discounts. Register: ago.ca/events/drawing.-drinks.-social.

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 presents wide-ranging exhibitions and programs, including solo exhibitions and acquisitions by diverse and underrepresented artists from around the world. 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.

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