Before you set foot inside the Art Gallery of Alberta you will be treated to stunning visual design. You cannot miss the impressive, distinctive silver building that sits in the heart of Edmonton’s Arts District, right on Sir Winston Churchill Square. Inside, the permanent collection brings together over 6000 works of art, both historic and modern, by top Canadian and international artists.
Since its founding in 1924 as The Edmonton Museum of Arts, this institution has sought to engage the city’s residents and promote their enjoyment of fine art. Through the decades, the collection of works has steadily grown, and it now occupies 7900 square metres of exhibition space within an architectural masterpiece whose design references the winding forms of the North Saskatchewan River and the Northern Lights.
Explore the development of the Canadian art movements with the excellent permanent collection of works spanning from the 1800s to the present day. There is a strong focus on Western Canadian artists, but their work is set in context with key pieces from around the world.
You’ll also discover a rich programme of temporary exhibitions, showcasing up-and-coming local talent and exquisite shows on loan from major international galleries and museums. This is also the host venue for the acclaimed Alberta Biennial of Contemporary Art, first launched in 1996.
The youngest visitors will love Tours for Tots. Every Wednesday morning the gallery hosts fun adventures for children aged 3 to 5 years old, accompanied by an adult, with story-telling, art workshops and specially tailored visits around the exhibitions.
If you feel like brushing up on your artistic skills, try the open studio drop-in workshops, held every Wednesday evening. Try techniques using inks or watercolours, sketching or sculpture. If you don’t want to get your hands dirty, stay instead for the Late Night Wednesdays event, with art-inspired cocktails on the gallery terrace and exclusive tours of the current exhibitions.
The Art Gallery of Alberta is open every day except Mondays. An admission fee is charged, but free guided tours are available on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Churchill Station is close by, so the gallery is easily accessible by public transport. Alternatively, there are both on-street parking spaces and underground car parks within a few minutes’ walk.
