Last Friday, a Globe and Mail headline announced "Art Gallery of Ontario Workers Face Layoffs."  There’s a substantial revenue short-fall and too few visitors and memberships.  The flagging economy gets ample blame.  But, obviously, that’s not the only reason…  November 14, 2008, my blog post, The AGO Reopens and ARTISTS Do MATTER was optimistic. But, soon after, impressions shifted.  Personal follow-up demonstrated how things aren’t always as projected: to be more skeptical about what’s put out when there’s lights, cameras, action. The design and layout of the gallery have been altered, but layers of "ice" still visible. Financial assistance and p.r. bestowed by outsiders aren’t always enough, especially if not able to be sustained in a challenging economy.  When consumers are forced to limit choices, feeling welcome, wanted, or involved is all the more significant, influencing  decisions as to where personal resources might be allocated for memberships and donations.  What didn’t count previously does now.  

Eagerness to trust and believe, perhaps, had caused me to take Director Matthew Teitelbaum’s message that "artists matter" too literally, at the AGO’s pre-opening day party.  Afterwards, I contacted him, as he’d advised, to be added to his "artists’ list."  It was my understanding, at the time, that there’d be (regular, local) artist-friendly happenings and mailings, and an openness to suggestions/meeting. Maybe, it was a mistake to put energy into follow-up when the thought-to-be-approachable (and open) weren’t really. A brief meeting with a tardy and distracted Dr. David Moos (Curator of Contemporary Art), who appeared comfortably so, didn’t justify weathering the cold and paying for down-town parking. But, hoping this was just an "off day" for him, and because of the work gone into my preparation, I followed up with a traditional "Thank you for the meeting note," daring to continue a truncated presentation. No response. I tried again. No response. I tried one more time. Still no response…

Probability:  If it’s happening to you, it could be happening to others.  The "Three Rs" still matter:  Respect, Reciprocity, Replies.  (A future blog post will look at this topic further.)

Principle:  Everyone matters, and those you think might matter least (now), could matter more (later).

The AGO’s annual "Massive Party" event April 2, 09, to collect more funds for the gallery, is $125 per participant. Not to be forgotten:  raising spirits and fostering good will, can also help boost funds (and visitor/membership appeal), no party (or extra expense) necessary.