Beginning a proud legacy of family programming
Art is for everyone, regardless of age. Using art to engage, educate and inspire young people, the Art Gallery of Hamilton offers a range of programs and events for children and families. This includes Family Fun Day, Storytime in the Gallery, studio classes for kids, and art camps during March break and summer holidays.
But how did the Gallery’s programming eventually lead to the provision of monthly Family Fun Day and other special events focusing on interactive art-making and entertainment for families? Below is an article written by members of the AGH Volunteer Archive Committee, who found a treasure trove of information from the archives:
When formed in 1950, the Women’s Volunteer Committee understood the value of introducing the wider community and a young generation of audience to the Gallery. The Committee had two major objectives: to promote the Gallery by increasing membership and to find ways to raise money. The Building Fund for the new Gallery was their immediate focus. To this end, their first highly successful project had been “The Mile of Pictures.” The next was “The Fun Fair” which was, by all the newspaper accounts of the day, an amazing demonstration of planning, organization, and teamwork. Saturday, June 16, 1951 was a beautiful, warm, sunny day, and the lovely grounds of Hillfield School were decorated for a garden party, but it was so much more.
- Decorations were described as “a perfect outdoor setting with glittering white snow with a background of shadowy trees and shrubs.”
- There was something for every member of the family, including a supervised play station for babies.
- Prizes for the major draw included a fur jacket, a bicycle, and nylon hose.
- Clowns, a magician, and a fortune teller performed courtesy of the Players’ Guild.
- The White Elephant Table offered many treasures, including a Crown Derby dish and silver and crystal coasters.
- The fish pond was filled with prizes, and the pony rides drew long lines of excited children.
- Afternoon tea was served in a shady marquee, by members of the Junior League.
- Bingo, a Wheel of Fortune, and other games were available.
- Spike, the trick horse, danced, and Johnny, the donkey, did many tricks to everyone’s delight.
- The Band of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (RHLI) performed.
It was a highly successful event which “made the handsome profit of $3106.00” for the Building Fund, all the more impressive given that the average yearly salary at the time was about $3000! As one newspaper account described it, “the wonder of it all is the ingenuity and originality displayed by the large and capable committee of women working together like clockwork,” an apt description of these founding volunteers.
Thank you for supporting the Art Gallery of Hamilton and participating in our special events and programs throughout the year. We look forward to 2025, when we will be celebrating 75 wonderful years of the AGH Volunteer Association!
This article was prepared by Ann Manson, Brian Winer, Marilyn Hollick, Valery Dunlop of the AGH Volunteer Archive Committee.
