The Agnes Etherington Art Centre is getting ready to launch into their final season before the current facility is torn down and completely transformed.

The Agnes Etherington Art Centre has been in operation as a research-intensive art museum since 1957, located at the corner of University Aveue. and Bader Lane. The recognizable building with a striking red accent will be transformed starting in the spring of 2024, a process which has been dubbed "Agnes Reimagined." Construction is set to be complete in 2026, leaving the centre to find creative ways to continue their programming throughout the next two years.

On Friday, Dec. 1, the centre will be kicking off its final season in its current location. This exhibition has been described as “Agnes’ love letter to Kingston,” celebrating local artists with a wide variety of works. 

Emilie Changur, director and curator for the museum spoke about heading into this final season.

“I think it's a really exciting moment and we feel free to experiment and to take some risks because we are headed into a closure and, you know, why not use this opportunity to, you know, shine some light on some under-recognized folks and remodel Agnes in a way that's super fun and pretty dynamic.”

In their launch event on Friday, they will also be unveiling their new architectural model and additional information for Agnes Reimagined, giving folks a preview of what Agnes’ new home will be in a few years time.

To learn more about the centre and their upcoming events, visit their website.

Listen to the full story below, featuring an interview with Emelie Changur: