Tag Archives: Art Windsor Essex

Reader letter: Artwork should have been on display at accessible site

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As published in the Windsor Star July 23, 2022.

Re: Amherstburg gets a closer look at Group of Seven artwork, by Dave Battagello, July 2

Not everyone will get a closer look.

The exhibition was being hosted in a downtown bookstore owned by Richard Peddie.

Victoria Little, chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Art Windsor-Essex, stated recently, “AWE regrets hosting this exhibition in a space that is not accessible in Amherstburg.”

In her letter, Ms. Little explained: “AWE also undertakes partnerships when our overarching goals for a program align with those of community visionaries, such as Richard Peddie.”

But if the goal was to bring this exhibit to Amherstburg, AWE could have selected accessible locations like the downtown Gibson Gallery or the Libro Centre.

The livability of communities cannot be improved if persons with disabilities continue to experience discrimination because of attitudinal and physical barriers.

AWE needs to adopt an accessibility policy and align its goals with legislation that ensures every person has a right to equal treatment with respect to services, goods and facilities without discrimination.

Ms. Little asked for my “patience and understanding that the organization operates within the broader systems of obligations that may conflict with our overarching accessible vision.”

I have been more than patient as I have advocated for improved accessibility for over 30 years. There’s the Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2001, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2005, the Human Rights Code, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, along with the goal of a fully accessible province in 2025.

Yet, a public art organization decided it was okay to exclude persons with disabilities with this recent exhibition. Linda Saxon, Amherstburg

Art Windsor Essex Board of Directors Ask For Patience Re Inaccessible Exhibit

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The letter from the Chair of Art Windsor Essex, formerly Art Gallery Windsor, is below:

June 30, 2022

Dear Linda Saxon,

We received your request, sent on June 28 to Executive Director Jennifer Matotek, to have the Board respond to your concern around the ‘Group of Seven: Not Formed in a Day’ ten-day pop-up exhibition, being displayed in a space that is not wheelchair accessible. AWE regrets hosting this exhibition in a space that is not accessible in Amherstburg. AWE will host ‘Group of Seven: Not Formed in a Day’ and the accompanying programs in our accessible exhibition spaces at 401 Riverside Drive West in Fall of 2022.

Art Windsor-Essex takes several factors into consideration when making decisions around programs. AWE’s strategic plan for 2021-25 notes that the gallery will seek to be “an accessible home for contemporary culture and critical conversations”. It also notes that we will work to strengthen our relationships with stakeholders, and conduct work throughout Windsor-Essex. Presenting programs in partnership with community members is a key part of AWE’s plan to become more community-driven. AWE’s exhibition, education and public programs policy also endorses AWE to undertake offsite partnerships for the purposes of audience engagement, and to support the achievement of artistic objectives. AWE also undertakes partnerships when our overarching goals for a program align with those of community visionaries, such as Richard Peddie.

AWE presents hundreds of programs a year. AWE strives to present programs in accessible spaces, either physically or online. As AWE remains committed to fostering an inclusive and contemporary home for exhibitions and community programing, we ask for your patience and understanding that the organization operates within the broader systems of obligations that may conflict with our overarching accessible vision. As we move forward in operationalizing our new Strategic Plan in a meaningful way, we continue to learn from community members, advocates, and leaders.

We value the perspective you have brought forward. As we continue to live our values and undertake the objectives of our strategic plan, your feedback will be meaningfully addressed as we move forward and continue to consider what it means for the gallery to be an “accessible home”. AWE is in the process of drafting an accessibility policy and access plan. Feedback from community members like you will be important as we draft our policy and plan with support from our external accessibility consultation group, and industry experts.

Thank you for interest in the programs Art Windsor-Essex presents. In line with our dedication to becoming a welcoming person-centred, community-driven, organization, we welcome your advocacy and encourage you to become a member of AWE’s accessibility consultation group. We would value your input on the work we are undertaking around accessibility and access.

Best regards,

Victoria Little, Chair Board of Directors Art Windsor-Essex

Peddie’s Pop Up – am800 Interview

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Dan Macdonald, am800, interviewed Richard Peddie, River Bookshop owner and Jennifer Matotek, Executive Director Art Windsor Essex (AWE), formerly Art Gallery Windsor about the Group of Seven Pop Up Exhibit. Read the article or listen to the interview.

Peddie mentions the event is free and you just walk upstairs because the event is on the second floor, called a hole in the wall. He explains that it’s an 1887 building and they weren’t accessible in those days.

Yes, but it’s 2022.

Meanwhile, Matotek is ‘looping in some’ team members and asking if they can work on some language for the show around access, ‘so we can be transparent with the public about the lack of access for this space.’

Being transparent about a lack of access is not the same as equal access.

Art Windsor Essex Confirms Exhibit Not Accessible Space

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Jennifer Matotek, Executive Director Art Windsor Essex (AWE) acknowledges, ‘Unfortunately, the Hole in the Wall venue which houses ‘Group of Seven: Not Formed in a Day’ is not an accessible space.’

The River Bookshop hosts the July 1 to 10 art event at its Hole in the Wall on the second floor. The AWE acknowledges on its website that This project and events are made possible with generous support from Richard and Colleen Peddie.

I inquired whether AWE had an accessibility policy. Matotek advised, ‘We are in the process of developing an accessibility plan and policy. This will be published on a dedicated ‘access’ page on our new website, which launches in Fall 2022.’

One more barrier in the Town of Amherstburg.