Gardiner Museum Code of Conduct Policy
Overview
The George R Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art (“the Gardiner Museum” or “the Museum”) is a public museum, welcoming of all. The Museum is committed to providing a safe, healthy, and supportive environment in which all members of the public, including visitors, Gardiner Members, participants, and guests are treated with respect and dignity. Respectful sharing of spaces, ideas and resources ensures an enriching and enjoyable experience for everyone. To this end, appropriate personal behaviour, decorum and conduct are required at all times. Activities and/or actions inconsistent with Museum values will not be tolerated. Respect, sensitivity and restraint should always be shown by the public while on Gardiner Museum property and communicating with Gardiner staff and volunteers. Members of the public who do not contribute to a safe and welcoming environment for all will be invited to adjust their behaviour. Anyone failing to do so will be asked to leave the Museum premises without refund.
Purpose
This Policy establishes the Gardiner Museum’s Code of Conduct Standards for members of the public while attending and in their interactions with the Museum. The Policy provides for certain consequences in the event the standards of the Code of Conduct are not followed.
Scope
This Policy applies to all members of the public including but not limited to visitors, Gardiner Members, participants, and guests. Clay class, camp, and program participants, and hospitality vendors and guests may be subject to additional conduct requirements specific to the nature of their engagement at the Museum.
Code of Conduct Standards
- Children of all ages are welcome. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult and attended to at all times.
- Strollers and front-facing baby carriers only are permitted in all galleries and exhibition spaces, unless otherwise noted.
- Visitors are required to wear proper attire while on Museum property. Shirts and shoes must be worn.
- Service animals are welcome in the areas of the Museum open to the public, except where excluded by law. A service animal may be readily identifiable through visual indicators such as a vest or harness. If it is not readily apparent that the animal is a service animal, the Museum may request documentation from a regulated health professional confirming that the animal is required for reasons related to a disability. No other animals are permitted.
- Sketching with pencil in the Permanent Collection Galleries is welcome; however, the use of all other mark-making materials is limited to the studios, or as permitted. Personal sketching stools are not permitted.
- All backpacks must be checked. Purses, bags larger than 12 x 16 x 5 inches and full-size umbrellas are not permitted in the Permanent Collection Galleries or the Special Exhibition Hall. Complimentary lockers are located on the ground floor for these items. Collapsible umbrellas are permitted if they are contained in a permissible size bag or purse. Unsecured items are left at the visitor’s own risk.
- Eating and drinking is not permitted in any of the Museum’s spaces except in designated areas. Food services are available on the 3rd floor at Clay Restaurant. Upon prior request, school groups may consume bagged lunches in a specially designated room located on the ground floor or outdoors in the Plaza seating area.
- Audible cell phone use should be kept to a minimum and take place outside gallery areas.
- Bicycles, scooters, tricycles, skateboards, roller/in-line skates are not permitted on Museum property or in the Museum at any time.
- Visitors are to refrain from shouting, running, pushing and other disruptive behaviour. Individuals exhibiting any such behaviour will be asked to leave the Museum.
- The Gardiner Museum will not tolerate any offensive or abusive behaviour, threats or acts of harassment or violence, acts of discrimination, racism, microaggressions, oppression, bullying, or hate speech of any kind regardless of, and not limited to, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, culture, age, and ability. The Gardiner Museum reserves the right to remove or terminate participation or deny participation to any individual who engages in such conduct, without refund or compensation.
- Weapons of any kind and any other item deemed dangerous by the Museum or under Canada’s Criminal Code are strictly prohibited.
- The use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, vapes and cannabis is strictly prohibited in the Museum or on Museum property including its balconies. Visitors and guests in violation may be asked to leave the premises at the sole discretion of Museum Security.
- The use of tobacco for Indigenous ceremonial purposes is permissible in specific areas of the Museum with special prior arrangement.
- Alcohol and all non-prescription drugs and drug paraphernalia use and presence are forbidden on Gardiner Museum property. Suspicion of impairment by alcohol or drugs may result in the removal from the Museum.
- Visitors are not permitted to engage in the following activities on Museum premises: posting or distribution of unauthorized materials, protests, rallies, or third-party sales.
- To preserve the safeguarding of objects on display, visitors are not permitted to touch or lean on any of the exhibits or displays unless specifically identified as a touchable exhibit or display.
- Any intentional damage, misuse, vandalism or unauthorized use of Gardiner Museum property or equipment or theft of such property or equipment is prohibited. The Gardiner Museum reserves the right to request reimbursement of repair or replacement expenses caused by such damage and/or take legal action against anyone who commits theft or damage to property or equipment.
- Photography and video without flash is allowed and encouraged for personal, non-commercial purposes, unless otherwise noted. Signs will be posted wherever such restrictions apply. Live-streaming, tripods and selfie sticks are not permitted.
- Trespassing, entering, or remaining in or upon Museum premises or property when the Museum is not open to the public, except with the express consent of Museum staff, is strictly prohibited. Any access onto or within any adjacent areas under construction or closed to the general public is also prohibited.
- Only registered participants and accompanying support persons are permitted in the ceramic studios. Access to the studios is only during the class time and never in the absence of an instructor or other Gardiner staff. Visitors and participants do not have access to the kiln room, or any other ‘staff only’ zones within the studios.
- Obstructing the use of public areas such as entrances, foyers, lobbies, corridors, studios, elevators, stairways, roadways, driveways or walkways is not permitted.
- Tampering with fire- and life-safety devices, such as fire extinguishers or alarm pull stations, is prohibited.
- Violating the order of or preventing the execution of duties by Museum staff to maintain order and control public access and movement is prohibited. Threatening, resisting, intimidating or intentionally interfering with Museum staff engaged in their official duties is prohibited.
