Ottawa Art Gallery Received $1.5 Million Donation

Published by: Ottawa Art Gallery | 7-Dec-2016
The Ottawa Art Gallery celebrated its largest private donation to its Art Now-L'art ici Capital Campaign as John and Jennifer Ruddy announced a $1.5 million donation from their Trinity Development Foundation. Funds raised will go to build the OAG Expansion, scheduled to open in Fall 2017, the year Canada marks its 150th anniversary. #ArtNow #OAGExpansion #OttawaArtG #OAG
The Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG) celebrated its largest private donation to its Art Now-L'art ici Capital Campaign as John and Jennifer Ruddy announced a $1.5 million donation from their Trinity Development Foundation.

The gallery has raised $5.1 million for its OAG Expansion which was led by its Capital Campaign committee, who were on hand to celebrate this exciting news. The community leaders spearheading the campaign include: Lawson Hunter (Chair), Dr. Rebecca Baker, Rachel Baxter, Tom Houston, Richard Roth, Barbara Utek, Susan Wood, and Alexandra Badzak, OAG's Director and CEO.

"We are thrilled that John and Jennifer Ruddy have chosen to deepen their long-standing relationship with the OAG with this remarkable gift. The Ruddy's are a catalyst for growth within Ottawa and we are honoured to be a part of their commitment to this community. Their support ensures that there will be a home to celebrate the arts for generations to come. With John and Jennifer, we look forward to welcoming guests to the expanded OAG in 2017", said Lawson Hunter, Capital Campaign Committee Chair and OAG Board Chair.

Bolstered by the public support it has received, the OAG will continue to accept funds for its Founders Wall to reflect the support for this project. The dollars raised will fund the OAG Expansion and its future OAG programming, including the 2017 inaugural exhibition, Creative Sundays, curator talks, artist presentations and other exhibition related programs.

"We are happy to support the Ottawa Art Gallery Expansion, for what will be a game changing building for our community," said John Ruddy, Executive Chairman of Trinity Development Group and Founder of Trinity Development Foundation. "We believe that the arts are an important aspect of any thriving community and we are proud to have a hand in helping to keep the Ottawa Art Gallery active and vibrant for years to come."

John Ruddy founded Trinity Development Group in 1992, and became a leader in the emerging style of large format retail centres. Trinity Development Group is a strong corporate sponsor of community based events and through his personal foundation, Trinity Development Foundation, John Ruddy is well known for his outstanding philanthropic activity within the city of Ottawa. By supporting youth programming, education, health care, seniors and the arts, he demonstrates his commitment to supporting the city he grew up in.

"We are proud to announce the naming of the exterior of the OAG Expansion, which will bear the name of our generous donor. The John Ruddy Cube will serve as a great reminder of the support for the arts in the Ottawa community," said Ottawa Art Gallery's Director and CEO, Alexandra Badzak.

Currently under construction next door to its present location inside Arts Court, the new OAG will expand to more than 80,000 square feet. It will house a 250 seat multipurpose and multidisciplinary screening space that will be home to the Canadian Film Institute, a changing exhibition gallery, a permanent collection gallery, a studio for workshops, a café, a gallery shop for visitors, as well as a new dedicated gallery space for the Firestone Collection of Canadian Art (FCCA), a municipal treasure that includes works by the Group of Seven and other important Canadian artists. The project also includes an exciting private sector mixed-use residential complex, Arthaus by DevMcGill and a boutique hotel by Group Germain Hotels.

The OAG's new Gallery will be located at 50 Mackenzie King Bridge and is scheduled to open in Fall 2017, the year Canada marks its 150th anniversary. The OAG Expansion coincides with the revitalization of Ottawa's downtown, which includes the reconstruction of Rideau Street, the expansion of the Rideau Centre and the construction of the new O-Train Confederation Line Light Rail Transit Project.

In the new year the Gallery will be launching OAG Out There, which will bring talks, workshops, socially engaged artist projects and other creative activities to the communities in the Ottawa-Gatineau region.

To schedule interviews or request more information, please contact:

Melinda Buijs, Communications Manager
mbuijs@ottawaartgallery.ca
613-233-8699,+ 225

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