Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography

Summary of organization/program

Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography is a non-profit artist-run centre committed to the advancement of contemporary Canadian photography. Our goal is to contribute to the national dialogue on contemporary Canadian photographic art practices and to foster its support, understanding and appreciation.


Contact information

   twitter 

 401 RICHMOND STREET WEST SUITE #120, TORONTO, ONTARIO, M5V 3A8 CANADA

  (416) 979.3941


Geographic region

  • Local (GTA)

Participants

  • Their photography workshops and exhibitions are open to everyone
  • Their education programs are primarily aimed at school aged youth – elementary to secondary
  • They also run an outreach program for youth at risk

History/Background Information

  • Established: 1979
  • Gallery 44 began in 1979 with a small group of artists in need of production facilities who joined together to share darkroom and studio space. Forming a collective was an important step in making facilities affordable and in creating a supportive community of artists with common goals. In 1980, the collective began mounting exhibitions and in 1981, began offering photography workshops.
     

    Gallery 44 moved from its original location on Niagara Street to Bathurst Street in 1986, where both the production and exhibition facilities were expanded to serve a growing membership. Because of a severe lack of photographic education in elementary and secondary schools, Gallery 44 began its Education in the Schools program in 1987.
     

    In 1994, Gallery 44 moved to 401 Richmond St. W. to improve the centre’s exhibition and production facilities and to widen its audience through a more centralized location. Moving to 401 Richmond was an extremely important new direction for Gallery 44, as the building houses a thriving community of artist-run centres, arts-based organizations, and artist studios. Sharing the building has fostered exchange, both in terms of resources and audience/event participation. 401 Richmond also hosts building-wide arts activities and events including Toronto Arts Week, Holiday Market Place, and the Festival of Sound, giving us further exposure to new audiences.
     


     

    The fact that our membership has tripled since our move to 401 Richmond is a clear indication of Gallery 44’s increased visibility and vitality in the community. We currently have over 200 members and 45 supporting patrons. In the past 20 years as photography has become firmly established as an artistic medium, we have witnessed a growing demand for exhibition opportunities for photo-based art, as evidenced by the hundreds of submissions we receive each year.
     

    In addition, Gallery 44 serves an important role in providing artists with affordable darkroom facilities, the only non-commercial one of its kind in Toronto. Despite the rapidly changing photographic technologies now available, we are finding a consistent demand for traditional black and white facilities, which we continue to monitor.


Dominant Media Forms

photography


Objectives

The goal is to contribute to the national dialogue on contemporary Canadian photographic art practices and to foster its support, understanding and appreciation.

Main Objectives

01.
Exhibit innovative and challenging contemporary Canadian and international photography

02.
Treat artists professionally

03.
Disseminate information in various ways which contributes to the understanding of contemporary Canadian photographic art

04.
Support emerging artists

05.
Support research on contemporary Canadian photographic art

06.
Support artistic production

07.
Maintain a centre for the active exchange of artistic ideas

08.
Provide educational opportunities for artists and the interested public

09.
Support photographic education for learners in elementary and secondary schools

10.
Make photo education available to young people outside of the school system

11.
Ensure our programs thrive by diversifying our income base and actively fundraising

12.
Work to broaden access to our programs


Statement of Principles

not provided


Strategies

  • Exhibitions
  • artist residencies
  • workshops 
  • education programs and workshops with youth within schools and youth at-risk

Samples of work

  • PHOTOMAGIC 44 is a five-day photography camp for youth aged 13 -19. This innovative and intensive week-long camp will utilize the extensive production and darkroom facilities at Gallery 44, focus on our unique location in the 401 Richmond arts building situated among many of Toronto’s leading artist-run galleries, as well as Gallery 44’s location in the heart of downtown Toronto.
  • CAMERAreach workshops are an exciting hands-on experience in photography for students in the Toronto District School Board.

    • Our instructors are professional photographic artists with experience teaching Elementary and Secondary School students including those with special needs.
    • The workshops emphasize self-expression through the development of creativity and technical skills.
    • Our instructors come to your school to work onsite with your class. 
    • If darkroom is required, the course is held in Gallery 44’s darkroom facilities. 
    • Workshops require a full day or two half days. 
    • A TDSB teacher must be present during the entire duration of the workshops.
     
  • OUTREACH is our vital education program designed specifically for youth who traditionally have not had access to photography as a medium of creative self-expression. OUTREACH breaks down barriers to the arts and encourages youth-at-risk to develop their creative voice and understand the power of the photographic image. Through OUTREACH, Gallery 44 works in collaboration with five community organizations to offer black and white photography workshops to over 50 young people in the Metro Toronto area. The workshops have a different thematic focus each year and guide the youth from concept, through to production and exhibition at Gallery 44.  The theme for OUTREACH 2010 was INTENTION.
  • CAMERALINKS, our annual non-competitive theme-based exhibition, provides a unique opportunity for Elementary and Secondary School students from the Metro Toronto and the surrounding area to exhibit their photographic artwork in a professional gallery.
    CAMERALINKS 2011 Theme: FROM THE GROUND UP.
    Submission Deadline: Wednesday February 2, 2011
    Exhibition Dates: February 17 – 26, 2011
    Reception: Thursday February 17, 3PM – 6PM


Funding Sources

Private Supporters

$5000 +
Canadian Auto Workers Social Justice Fund
RBC Foundation
Ryerson University
Morden Yolles

$1000 – $4999
Community One Foundation
Consulate General of France in Toronto
SHAPCO PRINTING, Inc.
Sir Joseph Flavelle Foundation
TD Canada Trust
The Phyllis Lambert Foundation
Toronto District School Board
Sterling Beckwith
Edward Burtynsky
Ian Clifford
Terri & John Dixon
Arnaud Maggs
Harry Malcolmson
NIcholas Metivier
L & J Seigel Family Fund

$500 – $999
The Globe and Mail
Toronto Image Works
Scotiabank Group Archives and Fine Art
Jeannie Baxter
A. D. Bender
Gary Cwitco
WIlilam Johnston
Q & Mary Lou Maltby
Mark Pearse
Jennifer Penney
Mark Rowlinson
Marek Warunkiewicz

$100 – $499
Bau-Xi Photo
Eight Elm Photo & Video
Mill Street Brewery
Stephan Bulger Gallery
Terry Costantino
Fernada Feria
Simon Glass
Toni Hafkenscheid
David Home
Sandi Lebovici
Gail Misra
Chris Shepherd
Janet White
Paul Yanover
 

In Kind Donations

Toronto Image Works
Swan Restaurant
Tarragon Theatre
Theatre Passe Muraille
Canadian Children´s Dance
Canadian Stage Company
Stephen Bulger Gallery
Blundstone Australian Boot Company
Type Books
Leslieville Cheese
Barbie’s Basement Jewellery
The Toronto Newsgirls Boxing Club
Come As You Are
Planet In Focus
This Magazine
Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival
CONTACT Photography Festival
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
Preloved
C Magazine
Prefix Photo
Good for Her
Stubbe Chocolate
imagineNative Film Festival
Art Toronto 2010
Hen House
Raging Spoon Restaurant
AGO

FUNDERS

Canada Council for the arts

Ontario Arts Council 

Ontario Trillium Foundation

Toronto Arts Council