Shaking the Foundations: Recent Audience Research at the Art Gallery of Ontario

This paper discusses two important initiatives at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO). The first was an experiment that tested the impact of interpretive devices on visitors to an installation of contemporary art. The second was a major collaborative project in which educators and curators joined forces and reinstalled a part of the AGO's permanent collection using innovative design and interpretive strategies. In both instances, audience research constituted an important part of the initiative and has flagged important issues that may have a significant impact on exhibit development at the AGO.