Art
More than 400 Art Gallery of Ontario workers to begin striking immediately
More than 400 workers at the Art Gallery of Ontario voted to strike late Monday, declining a final offer from management that would have boosted wages by 3.25 per cent and given them more than two years of retroactive payouts.
Members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union Local 535 will begin striking Tuesday outside the Toronto gallery, one of Canada’s largest, just as it prepares to launch a new exhibition reframing women’s contributions to European visual art called Making Her Mark. The AGO postponed a media preview of the event scheduled for Tuesday without confirming a new date, and said the museum would be closed that day. It was not immediately clear Monday night if the gallery would be able to operate beyond Tuesday without OPSEU staff, or if its unionized security team, represented by Unifor, would be willing to cross the picket line..
The union’s bargaining team told The Globe and Mail on Monday evening that 58 per cent of 289 members who voted on the offer rejected it, officially launching a strike. The local did not immediately comment on the result. In its notice that the Making Her Mark media preview would be cancelled, the gallery wrote that it hoped the parties would reach a negotiated settlement soon.
OPSEU members’ most recent contract with the AGO expired in late 2019 – after which the COVID-19 pandemic derailed negotiations, leading to repeated rollovers until late 2022.
Since then, the local, which represents a wide range of staff including assistant curators, art conservators, front-desk staff and technicians, has sought to ramp up salaries and protections to boost its workers’ livelihoods after several years of rampant inflation. They have been bargaining with management for about 10 months.
In statements, the union has warned that a growing push for part-time and outsourced work by the gallery has created an “underclass of struggling workers” who keep the gallery running as top executives reap salaries which, according to provincial disclosures, can range from about $200,000 to more than $400,000.
A few weeks ago, the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled that legislation restricting public-sector wage hikes to 1 per cent over three years was unconstitutional, prompting the province to repeal it.
In the AGO’s final offers to full- and part-time OPSEU members, shared with The Globe by the union, management offered retroactive lump-sum pay boosts of 1 per cent for the 12 months after December, 2021, 3.15 per cent after December, 2022, and 3.25 per cent after December, 2023. That rate would continue until Dec. 1, 2024, after which wages would rise by 3.5 per cent for the next year, when a new contract would expire.
The offers also included language that would guarantee part-time contract workers could not work more than 18 months without being converted to a permanent employee, with exceptions for endowed positions, covering absences and fixed-length contracts. They also included boosts to long-shift meal allowances, clothing and safety footwear stipends. Full-time staff would get an additional personal day.
Full-time employees would also have their compassionate leave-of-absence benefits extended to encompass pregnancy loss and time spent with immediate family in palliative care.
In its statements during bargaining, the OPSEU had said it was seeking minimum shift lengths, but this was not addressed in the offers. More than 60 per cent of gallery staff are part-time, and the union is seeking better protections, including around hours; those staff make about $34,380, the union said.
Protections for part-time employees were a key bargaining item when OPSEU members at the AGO came close to striking a decade ago, though the job stoppage was narrowly averted.
The AGO had a deficit of $3.9-million in its last fiscal year, which ended March 31. The Globe reported last November that Wanda Nanibush, its inaugural curator of Indigenous art and co-head of the Indigenous and Canadian Art Department, left amid concerns at the institution over her outspokenness on numerous issues, including the Israel-Hamas war.
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The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”
On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”
The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.
Blaze in the West Wing
The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.
About Somerset House
Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.
Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.
Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.
Sudbury’s annual art and music festival is marking a significant milestone this year, celebrating its long-standing impact on the local cultural scene. The festival, which has grown from a small community event to a major celebration of creativity, brings together artists, musicians, and visitors from across the region for a weekend of vibrant performances and exhibitions.
The event features a diverse range of activities, from live music performances to art installations, workshops, and interactive exhibits that highlight both emerging and established talent. This year’s milestone celebration will also honor the festival’s history by showcasing some of the artists and performers who have contributed to its success over the years.
Organizers are excited to see how the festival has evolved, becoming a cornerstone of Sudbury’s cultural landscape. “This festival is a celebration of creativity, community, and the incredible talent we have here in Sudbury,” said one of the event’s coordinators. “It’s amazing to see how it has grown and the impact it continues to have on the arts community.”
With this year’s milestone celebration, the festival promises to be bigger and better than ever, with a full lineup of exciting events, workshops, and performances that will inspire and engage attendees of all ages.
The festival’s milestone is not just a reflection of its past success but a celebration of the continued vibrancy of Sudbury’s arts scene.
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