Kleinburg's McMichael gallery gets $625K in provincial funding

YorkRegion.com
April 23, 2014
By Tim Kelly

Nobody wore red, but the chilly outdoor conditions mixed with a bonus $125,000 gift and expected $500,000 provincial grant made it seem like Christmas in April for the McMichael Canadian Art Collection today.

Playing the part of Santa Claus were the duo of Tourism, Culture and Sport Minister Michael Chan, who is also Minister Responsible for the 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games and Vaughan Liberal MPP Steven Del Duca.

Markham-Unionville MPP Mr. Chan was delighted to announce the half-million-dollar grant for the McMichael gallery, which will be used to renovate the gallery’s on-site carriage house and to create an accessible art studio and short-term accommodations for visiting artists.

“I’m pleased to announce that our government is contributing $500,000 to renovate this beautiful space. It’s a good, small space to help the gallery provide a bit more training, experience and, most importantly, to look at the issue of accessibility. I think that is very, very important,” said Mr. Chan this afternoon as he stood in front of the carriage house in Kleinburg.

Mr. Del Duca, meanwhile, had his own surprise announcement. He told those assembled at the news conference that, through the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, a $125,000 grant would go to McMichael to help promote and market the upcoming major exhibition Morrice and Lyman in the company of Matisse, that runs at the gallery from Oct. 4 to Jan. 5.

That latter announcement drew whoops of joy from several in the crowd.

Though the grant had been applied for months ago, there was no guarantee it would be approved.

McMichael director of development and donor relations Cindy Ball said the grant will be used to help support and attract more tourists to that exhibition, which it hopes will be a hit with art lovers.

And Susan Benton, the gallery's director of marketing and visitor experience, said they are hoping to attract record crowds.