
Agnes Etherington Art Centre’s team is growing with the addition of Neshan Tung, focusing on broadening public reception for their re-opening.
To prepare for their grand re-opening in 2026, Kingston’s iconic art gallery, Agnes Etherington Art Centre, announced a brand-new position, TD Civic Engagement, Strategic Initiatives, and Impact Coordinator. The role will be fulfilled by Neshan Tung, who previously held a year-long role at Agnes as visitor and events liaison.
READ MORE: Agnes Etherington Art Centre to undergo $100M transformation into dream art house
The new role was designed to revamp art memberships, improve host programs, and emphasize programs and events. The position is funded by TD Bank Group, among other arts and culture projects they support. As Tung mentioned to The Journal, the renovations will lead to a 144 per cent increase in Agnes’ public programming space—meaning the new role is essential to inviting the Kingston community into Agnes’ art world.
Tung studied museum studies at the University of Toronto and is passionate about art programming and the curatorial art world. Though only in the early research stages of the position, Tung is excited for the opportunity to join the team for Agnes’ pivotal milestone, Agnes Reimagined.
After receiving a $75 million donation from Bader Philanthropy Inc., Agnes Etherington is completely remodeling to focus on hospitality and inclusivity. Agnes Reimagined is set to open in 2026 and Tung’s role was created to support this vision and project.
“I feel lucky [for the position]. It’s a very exciting moment in the museum field. Agnes is a leading institution in Canada that a lot of other institutions are going towards when they’re thinking of embracing community engagement, diversity, and all the other things that are on the forefront right now,” Tung said in an interview with The Journal.
Her role requires warmth, reception, and openness, key skills needed to frequently engage with, and take feedback from, the public. Agnes is known for its innovative ideas that often emerge from an open conversation and collaboration with the public, solidifying their creativity as an institution that exists outside of the traditional art gallery sphere.
“The main thing that excites me [about the new role] is feeling like I’m having a hand in restructuring museum practices from the ground up,” Tung said in an interview with The Journal.
Tung believes she aligns with the position because of her love for talking to others and her desire to touch base with different communities. Getting various ideas and insights is very important to Tung, who wants to incorporate distinct new ideas into Agnes’ programming and initiatives.
“I enjoy bringing that hospitality ethos to Agnes. That’s where I really align with this position, because I love talking to people and getting their insights and ideas,” Tung shared.
For those interested in pitching ideas for Agnes Reimagined to Tung, the art centre invites everyone to get involved with Agnes Reimagined through talking circles where discussion and ideas can flow freely. Agnes Etherington Art Centre will be hosting their final sharing circle later this year. Anyone is welcome to come and share their thoughts, using the sign-up form on their website.
With a strong ethos of community engagement, Agnes isn’t afraid to change things up, keeping the public intrigued and on their toes. Creating a new role to focus on making the public’s interactions with the art centre as smooth and enjoyable as possible, they have a strong eye on the future.
“Artists that don’t see themselves as being represented by art galleries are embraced at Agnes. Agnes embraces the unconventional artist spirit, which I really resonate with and like about Agnes,” Tung said.
Agnes has evolved and changed over time since it first opened in 1957, just as we all do. Tung is an optimistic and qualified choice to continue the gallery on its path to revolutionizing the museum and gallery world.
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Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Agnes Reimagined, Art, Art programming, Neshan Tung
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