Inside the Exhibition: Curating and Exhibiting in Nuit Blanche 2026

Gallery visitor looking up at a large vibrant mixed-media painting on a white gallery wall — Avenue Road Arts School Inside the Exhibition course

Inside the Exhibition: Curating and Exhibiting in Nuit Blanche 2026

Advanced
Beginner
Intermediate
Summer 2026
Schedule
Wednesdays, July 29 - August 26 (4 weeks)
7 - 9:30pm
Location
Virtual
Course Fee
$625 +HST
Enroll Now
Back to classes

About this course

Step outside of the studio setting and into the gallery doors. This course is an insider view in gaining perspective on what it takes to transform a collection of raw artwork into a polished public exhibition. Led by industry professionals Evan Hutchinson and Martha Johnson, this hybrid course nurtures and guides those who wish to feature their art into the world, shifting the focus from making art to the showcasing of it. Students will learn the visual and physical strategies curators use to build a harmonious gallery narrative, the knowledge in frames and finishes, navigate spatial layout logistics, and articulate your vision through professional artist statements. This isn’t just theory; this is a hands-on, practical deep dive into the practical logistics involved. Through virtual sessions, on-site gallery visits and featured industry professionals, you will work alongside the guidance necessary to handle the real-world logistics of a public event, culminating in installing and showcasing your work in a collective exhibition for Toronto’s iconic Nuit Blanche 2026.

Schedule Note: Weekly classes run virtually via Zoom on Wednesdays, 7:00 PM – 9:30pm. This course also includes two separate, in-person dates for a gallery visit and the exhibition installation. These off-screen dates will be coordinated and confirmed once the course begins to best suit everyone’s schedule.

What you'll learn

What students say

They didn't think they were artists either.

"I really didn't know the first thing about Contemporary art beforehand. He has a real talent for encouraging and inspiring students — everyone leaves his classes feeling great about themselves and their work."
Jamie Mudrick · Art of Colour
"A very engaging and fun class. It's a fantastic way to help loosen up and get the creative juices flowing. If I was able to, I would take this course every time it's offered."
Leslie Greenbaum · Drawing More Expressively
"I loved all of the exercises — it was very inspiring for me and a fabulous entry into drawing. It was way too short. The four weeks flew by."
Jamie Mudrick · Drawing More Expressively
"She was incredibly patient with me as a first time painter and gave detailed instruction on how to move my piece forward while preserving and helping me to find my own artistic style."
Adult student · Acrylic Art 101
"I am a beginner painter and learned a lot and now feel confident to paint on my own. I attended three courses — it was a lovely experience."
Shipra Pandey · Acrylic Art 101
"Rachel's demeanor is great. Her feedback and inclusiveness made it a comfortable environment. This class made me look forward to Monday evenings."
Itzel Rendon · Drawing for Beginners
"I really appreciate the focus on right-brain thinking and learning to be in a more receptive, curious state. The warm-up exercises were fun and novel — it helped me get out of my own way."
S. Siskind · Drawing for Beginners
Image

Evan Hutchinson

Royal Academy of Arts (U.K.) · Toronto Metropolitan University B.F.A. · ARAS Creative Director · Multimedia & Lens-Based Specialist
Evan Hutchinson is the Instructor and Creative Director at the Avenue Road Arts School. After completing her B.F.A. at Toronto Metropolitan University, she relocated to London, U.K., where she developed and facilitated art classes for the public at the Royal Academy of Arts. Upon returning to Canada, Evan continued her practice of leading art programs for public and private schools and low-income families across Ontario. Her independent art and teaching practice is rooted in multimedia, including drawing, painting, collage, and lens-based media. Using an interest in human social and psychological behavior, she explores various forms of facilitated experimentation that attempt to question the world around us.
Image

Martha Johnson

BFA Honours · Listed Canadian Artist
Martha received a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Honours, from the University of Guelph, and was mentored by Tom Hodgson (Painter's 11). Known for figurative and landscape painting, her work is held in public, corporate and private collections worldwide. Visit marthajohnson.ca

FAQs

Please find answers to commonly asked questions here. If you're still in doubt, don't hesitate to contact us: contactus@avenueroadartsschool.com


Summer 2026
Schedule
Wednesdays, July 29 - August 26 (4 weeks)
7 - 9:30pm
Location
Virtual
Course Fee
$625 +HST
Enroll Now

Keep exploring

  • Gallery visitor looking up at a large vibrant mixed-media painting on a white gallery wall — Avenue Road Arts School Inside the Exhibition course
    Virtual
    Inside the Exhibition: Curating and Exhibiting in Nuit Blanche 2026
    Wednesdays, July 29 - August 26 (4 weeks)
    7 - 9:30pm
    Learn More
    $625 +HST
  • Exterior image of Spadina museum - Avenue Road Arts School Art Sketching the Garden and Orchard
    In person
    Sketching the Garden and Orchard: Ink and Watercolour at the Spadina Museum
    Thursday August 27
    11am - 2pm
    Learn More
    $195+HST
  • Large canvases laid flat on a studio floor with artists painting expressive works from nature reference photos using long-handled brushes — Avenue Road Arts School Painting BIG from Nature course
    In person
    Painting BIG from Nature: Large-Scale Abstract Painting
    Saturday & Sunday, July 4 & 5
    10am - 1pm
    Learn More
    $345 +HST
  • Artist painting a colourful floral bouquet in a spiral sketchbook
    In person
    Drawing from Antiquity: Floral Motifs at the ROM
    Tuesday, July 14
    11am - 1:30pm
    Learn More
    $185 +HST
  • ARAS students paint plein air - Avenue road arts school rural city
    In person
    Rural City: Painting en Plein Air at Evergreen Brick Works
    Wednesday, July 22
    10am - 4pm
    Learn More
    $295 +HST
  • Artist with her sketch book in hand and her laptop open - Avenue Road Arts School Art Collective Sketchbook
    Virtual
    The Collective Sketchbook: Virtual Open Studio & Community
    Wednesdays, July 8, 15, 22, 29 (4 weeks)
    9:30am - 11:30am
    Learn More
    $205+HST
  • Artist painting an expressive botanical composition on paper using gloved hands and ink
    Virtual
    Art of the Moment: Contemporary Painting - Intensive
    Thursdays, July 9, 16, 23, 30 (4 weeks)
    7 - 9:30pm
    Learn More
    $245 +HST
  • Bronze sculpture with a decorative ceramic globe for a head standing outside the Gardiner Museum entrance — Avenue Road Arts School Floral Motif at the ROM course
    In person
    Drawing the Collection: Form and Texture at the Gardiner Museum
    Wednesday, August 5
    10am - 12:30pm
    Learn More
    $175 +HST
  • Artist applying thick impasto paint to a small canvas with a palette knife in a studio setting
    Virtual
    Nature in Abstraction
    Thursdays, July 2, 16, 23, 30 (4 weeks)
    10am - 12pm
    Learn More
    $265 +HST