At the last monthly meeting of the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada (NEPMCC) President Thomas Saras and The President of the Art Gallery of Ontario, Matthew Teitelbaum greeted us with warmth.

Teitelbaum started off by saying that the AGO was closed for renovations to prepare for the addition of the Lord Thompson art collection, a selection of substance. The addition will cost around $250 million, most of it coming from the government, the rest from private and corporate donations.

He also hoped to reach out to the ethnic/diverse communities, to bring them into the art community fold. The AGO sponsors several schools, the students of which will be allowed to go into the gallery free at any time. He described some of the student programs that had been around for years.

The gathered applauded politely and did not for a moment think of mentioning that they have come to Canada with a greater cultural heritage than perhaps the bigwigs thought.

Märkmed: