Gardiner Museum
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| Established | 1984 |
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| Location | 111 Queen’s Park, Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Type | Museum of Ceramic Art |
| Director | Kelvin Browne |
| Curator | Meredith Chilton |
| Public transit access | |
| Website | www.gardinermuseum.on.ca/ |
The Gardiner Museum is Canada's national ceramics museum. It was founded by George and Helen Gardiner in 1984 to house their collection of ceramic art. It is located on Queen’s Park just south of Bloor Street in Toronto, opposite the Royal Ontario Museum. The nearest subway station is Museum.
The Gardiner Museum was founded in 1984 by George and Helen Gardiner. It was originally opened as the George R. Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art to house their collection of ceramic art. From 1976, when they started collecting ceramics, to 1981, when they decided to share their treasures with the public, George and Helen had assembled several astounding specialized collections in the fields of pottery from the Ancient Americas and European ceramics that would become the core of the Museum when it opened. For instance, in their depth and breadth, the Gardiner's collections of Meissen porcelain, rare Du Paquier porcelain from Vienna (the second factory to successfully produce hard-paste porcelain in Europe) and Hausmaler decorated porcelain are of world importance. The Gardiners also established one of the best collections of Italian Renaissance maiolica in Canada, and the most comprehensive collection of figures from the commedia dell'arte in a public institution.
Between 1987 and 1996 the Gardiner Museum was managed by the Royal Ontario Museum, located across the street on Queen's Park Crescent. In 1996, an endowment from George Gardiner supported the Museum becoming an independent institution again. In January 2004, the Gardiner Museum closed temporarily to implement a major expansion, with funding for this provided primarily by the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario and Helen Gardiner. Building on the qualities of the original structure, designed by architect Keith Wagland, the architectural firm of Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg added galleries, larger educational, administration and studio space, a new retail shop, and a new cafe and special events area. During this period, the Museum temporarily relocated to a warehouse at 60 McCaul Street. The original building was designed by Keith Wagland, who was professor to Kuwabara during his time at the University of Toronto. When the Gardiner Museum re-opened in 2006, the renovation received great acclaim and is often cited as one of the most beautiful buildings in Toronto. This over 14,000 square feet of additional space also allowed a broader focus for the Museum, an expanded collections purview, more special exhibitions, and opportunities for greater public participation.
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