Ontario Society of Artists

The Ontario Society of Artists (OSA) was founded in 1872. It is Canada's oldest continuously operating art society. The establishment of a provincial art museum and art school were the two foremost objectives of the Society. The list of objectives drawn up by the founding executive also included the fostering of Original Art in the province and the holding of Annual Exhibitions. Prominent businessman William Holmes Howland was invited to be President of the Society.

It was not until 1900 that the Society was in a position to form an art museum. It began under the name Art Museum of Toronto and is now the Art Gallery of Ontario. The Museum began using the Toronto Public Library on College Street to exhibit its collection. It did so from 1910 until 1920. The Society's annual exhibitions held during this period were also held at the library. The Society, in 1920, began holding its annual shows in the new Art Gallery of Toronto.

The Society was concerned about the lack of art education in Ontario. The Mechanics Institute provided basic classes in technical subjects but art instruction was limited to private lessons in the homes or studios of established artists. The Society obtained a grant of $1,000.00 in 1876. The grant allowed renovation of leased premises at 14 King Street West to create art school classrooms with the balance used as gallery space. The modest classrooms opened the Ontario School of Art on October 30, 1876. The enrollment was 25 students.

Although the school continued to flourish, its financial situation was uncertain because the Society could not secure long-term funding from the government. In 1883, a new arrangement between the Society and the government resulted in the school moving to Normal School Building in St. James Square, now the location of Ryerson University. By 1884, relations between the Society and the government collapsed. The Society's vice president and Royal Canadian Academy president, Lucius Richard O'Brien, resigned. His exasperation appears in his letter of resignation:

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