Art Gallery of Ontario

The gallery runs its own food and beverage service from three on-site kitchens.

About the venue

Baillie Court has its own dedicated event kitchen. Wedding ceremonies can be held beneath the Walker Court staircase. The Weston Family Learning Centre has three glass-walled seminar rooms with built-in technology. Jackman Hall is listed as temporarily closed.

On EventPlans.ca it is listed as a museum or gallery in Toronto, at 317 Dundas Street West, Toronto, ON M5T 1G4.

Event spaces

The venue lists these spaces. Capacities are the venue’s own figures and change with the layout you choose.

• Baillie Court: up to 450 standing / 400 seated dinner
• Walker Court: up to 450 standing / 120 seated dinner
• Galleria Italia: up to 300 standing / 80 seated dinner
• AGO Bistro: up to 100 reception / 60 seated
• Norma Ridley Members’ Lounge
• Sculpture Atrium
• Weston Family Learning Centre (three seminar rooms)

Capacity

The venue publishes a maximum of 400 seated, 450 standing reception. Those are top figures for an empty room. A dance floor, a stage, a buffet or a photo booth each take space, so plan on fewer guests than the maximum once your layout is drawn.

A useful rule: a seated dinner at rounds of ten needs about 1 to 1.2 square metres per guest, a standing reception about 0.7, and theatre seating about 0.6, before you add a stage or dance floor. The venue capacity calculator does the arithmetic for your room.

Events it hosts

According to its own event pages, the venue hosts weddings, corporate events and private social events.

For timelines, budgets and checklists, start with the wedding planning hub, corporate holiday party hub.

Questions to ask on your site visit

Bring these to your walk-through. Get the answers in writing before you sign.

• Which galleries are open to guests during the event, and which must stay closed?
• Are there rules on food, red wine, candles or flowers near the collection?
• What is the earliest set-up time after the public closes?
• Must you use the in-house caterer, and is security staffing included?
• Are there height, haze or fog restrictions near the artwork?
• Can guests take photos in all spaces?

Planning entertainment here

Museums often limit haze, open flame and anything that could touch the collection. Close-up magic, string players and roaming performers usually fit easily; ask before booking anything with fire or confetti.

Send every performer’s technical needs to the venue before you book: floor space, ceiling height, power, sound and changing room.

Getting there

Check the venue website for directions, parking rates and accessible entrances, and send the details to guests with the invitation.

Official website: ago.ca/host-your-event