About > Art Metropole

Art Metropole is a non-profit visual arts centre with a focus on contemporary art in formats predisposed to circulation and dissemination: artists’ books and art publications, video, audio, electronic media, and multiples. Art Metropole distributes works through its space at 896 College Street, pop-up and satellite locations, and online.

Art Metropole produces exhibitions, talks, screenings, performances and other programming that feature and/or intersect with distributed art practices; and manages a public art collection and archive pertaining to these practices.

The centre was founded in 1974 by the artist collective General Idea, as a division of Art-Official Inc. (1972). Art-Official’s mission is to facilitate and document collaboration and exchange of ideas between artists. The company had served as the non-profit business entity for General Idea’s File Megazine (1972–1989). Art Metropole was conceived as a related artist-run centre and collection agency devoted to the documentation, archiving and distribution of all the images.

The Art Metropole collection is composed of two parts. The early collection and archive features over 13,000 items, including pieces of correspondence, artists’ books, multiples, videos, exhibition invitations and ephemera. These items are held in a special collection at the National Gallery of Canada's Library & Archives – a transfer made with thanks to the kind support of Jay A. Smith in 1999. The second portion of Art Metropole’s collection and archive, developed largely since that period, is held on premises at our College Street location, and is made available through special exhibitions and institutional loans.

A chronology of Art Metropole Events and Programs can also be found here. Items digitized from our Archive can be seen on our website here.

Art-Official Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation incorporated under the laws of the province of Ontario and a registered charitable organization.

If you have any inquiries please contact [javascript protected email address].

Contact Information
  • Art Metropole
  • 896 College St
  • Toronto, ON M6H 1A4
  • Canada
  • +1 416-703-4400
  • [javascript protected email address]

  • Hours:
  • Wednesday to Sunday
  • 11AM to 6PM



  • Ephemeral Streams
  • Art Metropole at the RMG
  • 72 Queen St
  • Oshawa, ON L1H 3Z3
  • Canada
  • +1 905-576-3000 Ext 109


Art Metropole operates principally from the city of Toronto, situated on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, Huron-wendat (Wyandot) and Mississaugas of the Credit. We are grateful to be here and reverent to over 12,000 years of human activity and stewardship in these lands.

Art Metropole is a member of the Artist-Run Centres and Collectives of Ontario (ARCCO), the Art Librarians Society of North America (ARLIS/NA), and the Canadian Museums Association (CMA).

We gratefully acknowledge ongoing support from The Canada Council for the Arts, The Ontario Arts Council, and The Toronto Arts Council.

Additional Information
  1. Charity Number 12287 1270 RR0001
  2. BN 12287 1270
  3. This website ISBN 978-1-989010-15-0
  4. ISNI 0000 0001 0666 4041
  5. Bookmanager Pubstock vendor code: AMT
Related sites
  1. www.vimeo.com/artmetropole