Young Patron Circle

A dedicated group of young professionals between the ages of 25-45 years old who are championing the power and potential of art, clay, and culture.

Become a YPC member

Launched in 2015, the Gardiner Museum’s Young Patron Circle (YPC) program offers young professionals exclusive opportunities to connect with a like-minded community of culturally-engaged individuals looking to improve their own knowledge of art, culture, and collecting, while providing philanthropic support to a world-renowned cultural institution and shaping its future.

Joining the YPC means building connections to local artists, curators, and collections; access to exclusive patron events; participation in our Patron Insider Events; invitations to special studio and home visits; and a complimentary ticket to SMASH, the Gardiner’s annual art party hosted by the YPC.

Our YPC Committee welcomes new members. Join today if you’re creative, open-minded, and committed to the arts.

For more information, please contact us at 416.586.8080 or mail@gardinermuseum.com.

Benefits

By joining the YPC you will gain exclusive access to a museum unique in Toronto. You will enjoy:

• Exclusive access to a unique cultural institution
• Invitations to Patron Openings where you will have the opportunity to meet artists, hear from experts, and mingle with other patrons and supporters
• Exclusive invitations to Patron Insider Events to see rarely viewed objects and private collections, visit artist studios, and receive invitations to exclusive events with prominent curator and scholars
• Complimentary ticket to the annual SMASH art party
• The opportunity to join one of the YPC Committee groups to deepen your involvement. The sub-committees include Events, Fundraising, and Membership Development
• A charitable tax receipt for $435
• All Patron Circle benefits, which you can view here.

Upcoming events

Note: Programs marked with (*) are complimentary for YPC members. Tickets to public events can be purchased by YPC members at the Gardiner Friends rate.

Thursday April 25, 8 pm – 12 am
New Ho Queen: Undivided
Queer Asian collective New Ho Queen is curating an art party that will break down walls and boundaries and explore how building bridges and fostering chosen families creates subcultural spaces for belonging. Tickets are $8 for Gardiner Friends.

June 26
SMASH: Nourish*
Presented by RBC Wealth Management
SMASH: Nourish is a night of bold artwork, delicious cuisine, refreshing drinks, and invigorating experiences. This year, we’ll explore and experiment with different forms of nourishment: food and drink, good company and conversation, and of course, art—all of which provide deep and rich sustenance.

September 17
YPC Clay Mixer*

October 15
Savour: Food Culture in the Age of Enlightenment*
Patron Opening

November 21
International Ceramic Art Fair Preview Gala

Past Events

Tuesday March 26, 2019
YPC Intimate Artist Chat with Nurielle Stern*
Artist Nurielle Stern chatted with YPC members about her work Unswept Floor (Tesserae), an installation of small-scale ceramic sculptures in response to the exhibition Ai Weiwei: Unbroken.

Thursday June 21, 2018
Smash: We Are More
The third sold-out edition of SMASH, presented by RBC Wealth Management and curated by Art Director Jacquelyn West, took place on June 21, 2018. More than 300 guests enjoyed an evening of immersive contemporary art, experimental cuisine, and live performances inspired by the theme “We Are More.”

See the Facebook album

YPC Committee

Co-Chairs

Michael Liebrock
Managing Partner, Investments & Asset Management, Stronach Group
Apart from a magnificent permanent collection, the Gardiner Museum attracted me because it is a premier cultural institution with a dynamic and bright future ahead of it. It is a landmark with a solid foundation, and unlimited upward trajectory. The Gardiner is building an institution which will be even more meaningful, relevant, and engaged in the community. I am looking forward to helping build the Gardiner Museum of tomorrow.

Penny Soo
Senior Marketing Partner, CI Investments Inc.
Passionate about arts and culture and a big fan of Toronto, I was looking for an opportunity to be more involved in the community while being immersed in arts. After volunteering for an event at the Gardiner Museum, I loved the diversity and uniqueness of this institution. Being a founding member provides me with an outlet to hopefully bring this great museum to more people who love Toronto and love unique art. The Gardiner Museum has a wonderful vision and I’m happy to be a part of it!

Committee Members

Hughene Acheson
Principal, Hughene Acheson Fine Art Consulting
Hughene has always enjoyed an afternoon cup of tea, more so in a beautiful porcelain cup.

Jennifer Franks
Decorative Art Specialist, Art Peritus & New York Fine Art Appraisers
Working in the Decorative Arts and ceramics specifically, I had heard about the Gardiner Museum and its collections, which provided my introduction to Toronto; after making this amazing city my home, my objective was to learn more about the arts community and possibly contribute to its growth. The Gardiner graciously welcomed me, resulting in an exchange of knowledge and some cherished friendships. I most admire the Gardiner’s commitment to cross-cultural conversations through art.

Julie Hicks Riches
Principal, Riches Consulting
The Gardiner Museum’s unique ability to incorporate up and coming international and Canadian artists while showcasing a vast collection of our industry’s standards is an experience like no other. It’s easy to see why this hidden gem is such a treasure!

Kulin Matchhar
Associate, Philanthropy, Plan International Canada
From the gorgeous facade to the unique collection inside, the Gardiner Museum presents an opportunity for me to deeply engage in the arts and culture of Toronto. It is a hidden gem in the city, which I would like more people to know about and support. I am excited for the future of this fine place, and to help engage the community and bring more young patrons to discover this cultural institution.