Vision
We inspire wonder, community, and connection, exploring our shared humanity through clay.
Land Acknowledgment
The Gardiner Museum is situated on the ancestral and traditional territories of many nations, including the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples, and is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. It is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. As a museum that celebrates the material of the Earth, the Gardiner is committed to honouring Indigenous peoples’ cultural and spiritual connections to the land. Indigenous self-determination is central to our work, and we strive to celebrate Indigenous knowledge and creativity through our collections, exhibitions, and programming.
Commitment to Equity
The Gardiner is committed to dismantling systems of inequity within our Museum. We will realize this work by eliminating barriers to access and opportunity and by creating a space of inclusion where everyone feels welcome and valued. We see equity as fundamental to the Gardiner’s mission and believe it is the responsibility of everyone within the organization, including leadership, staff, volunteers, and the Board. The steps we will take toward achieving our equity goals are outlined publicly in our 2025-2028 Strategic Plan and Equity Action Plan. Equity encapsulates anti-racism, anti-oppression, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion, with the goal of achieving a more generative and proactive path towards justice. Becoming a more equitable institution is a continuous process that requires ongoing direction of financial resources and the implementation of systems of learning, evaluation, accountability, and action. We recognize our approach must be holistic and integrated across all areas of the Museum, internally and externally. We acknowledge that museums are rooted in systems of power and empire, and we are dedicated to shaping a future for the Gardiner that centres equity and community.
2025 – 2028 Strategic Plan and Equity Action Plan
The Gardiner Museum’s 2025 – 2028 Strategic Plan represents a year-long collaboration among Gardiner staff with significant contributions from the Board, volunteers, and community partners to co-create a shared vision for the future.
