The OAG is an independent, not-for-profit, charitable organization governed by a volunteer board of directors. It was founded in 1988 as the Gallery at Arts Court by a group of local artists and community leaders and renamed the Ottawa Art Gallery in 1992. That same year, the City of Ottawa transferred custodianship of the Firestone Collection of Canadian Art to the OAG. In taking on this nationally significant collection of 1,600 works of 20th century Canadian art, the OAG also received designation as Ottawa’s municipal art gallery. Over time, the OAG has built a significant permanent collection that now numbers more than 1,020 works including paintings, sculpture, graphic arts, photographs and new media. The OAG’s mandate is to be the most vital visual arts institution in Ottawa. As a leader in the arts community, we present new ideas and provide a cultural meeting place to actively promote relationships and exchanges between artists and various diverse facets of our community. We explore and reflect on diversity and social change through a spectrum of visual arts practice, focused on but not exclusive to the region in a national and international context. CORE ACTIVITIES Collections: Research, collecting and preserving primarily regional art in perpetuity for the citizens of Ottawa and the enjoyment of all Exhibitions: Interpreting and presenting art and other visual arts practices with a focus on Ottawa within a national and international context Public programs: Creating partnership and public programs that engage the community with art and culture Arts leadership: Creating a space for communing with art and celebrating culture in our city