Courtesy of Stefan Chirila

Tomorrow is Scotiabank’s Nuit Blanche: the ultimate exposition of free art in Toronto. But if you’re living on a tight budget, there’s other ways to check out artwork around the city – and they’re open all year round.

It’s completely understandable that you’d roll your eyes at having to pay money to see artwork our taxes have paid for. But there’s a way around the system:

Starting with the AGO (McCaul and Dundas W):  it is free on Wednesday’s from 6-8.30pm. (the usual price is $18 and $10 for full time students). We recommend heading to the 4th and 5th floors to see the contemporary exhibitions if you’re not exactly an art connoisseur. If you’ve got energy, take the Frank Gehry staircase that everybody’s been raving about and check out the wicked view of the city. Did we mention they sell booze at the AGO? Enough said.

Heading over to the ROM (University Ave and Bloor) the only free time is Wednesday from 4.30 -5.30pm. (Uh great thanks, one freaking hour) Anyways, it meshes nicely with the AGO so you can amble down the street and have a free evening of culture. (the usual admission is $22 and students are $19 – Whoa!!) But if you’re lucky to be a full time student, it’s also free on Tuesdays (10am-5.30pm).

Next, let’s head to MOCCA (952 Queen St W near the park). This gallery goes by the ‘pay what you can’ theory. Thank you. It specializes in Canadian Contemporary art and is open from 11-6:00 p.m. (9:00 p.m. on Fridays, but not open Mondays).

Finally, the Power Plant (231 Queens Quay W) is also free on Wednesday night from 5pm-8pm. At this point we’re starting to see a trend on this day of the week – what gives? Anyways, the usual price is only $6 (students $3).

One last thing (if you’re into fashion):

The AGO presently has an exhibit of Edward Steichen’s photographs of high fashion (1923-37) which is $18 or $12 for students. You can register on their website. Also, the ROM right now is showing Vanity Fair Portraits; 1913-2008, and will be free on Nuit Blanche. They’re also hosting a free lecture on Nov. 9th  (7-9:00 p.m.) titled Facing the Lens.

XoXo
– The Cowgirls