The federal government has granted $7.5 million to a learning centre at the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Toronto-based AGO announced Monday.
The money, from the federal infrastructure stimulus plan, will go toward the Weston Family Learning Centre, a project that has already won $12 million from The W. Garfield Weston Foundation.
Toronto firm Hariri Pontarini Architects was announced as designer for the centre, which will be on the main floor and lower level of the gallery. The same firm designed the Schulich School of Business and McKinsey & Company office building in Toronto.
The 35,000-square-foot learning centre will have space for art instruction, workshops and community-based exhibitions as well as technology that can provide art education online.
The Weston Foundation dedicated $12 million toward the project in 2008, including $10 million for capital costs and $2 million toward a teaching endowment.
The AGO has a long tradition of art education, with Group of Seven artist and teacher Arthur Lismer beginning programs in 1930.
The AGO reopened in November 2008 after a renovation by celebrated architect Frank Gehry. An AGO spokeswoman said the learning centre was never part of Gehry's design scope and the AGO sought out a Toronto company for the project.
Construction is expected to begin in April, with the centre completed by 2011, the AGO said.
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