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Compiled by the Road Trip Manitoba team
Last updated August 16, 2024
Spending a day at the Winnipeg Art Gallery is one of the best things to do in Winnipeg. Often referred to as the WAG or the WAG-Qaumajuq, the Winnipeg Art Gallery has a long history of supporting and promoting local art and championing Indigenous art from around Canada. In fact, with the addition of Qaumajuq, Winnipeg is now home to the largest public collection of contemporary Inuit art in the world.
With tens of thousands of works of art on display – some permanent, some as part of temporary exhibits – you could easily spend a day wandering around the gallery. We recommend planning for at least three hours at the gallery to really soak up what the WAG has to offer.
From opening hours to permanent collections, read on for our ultimate guide to spending a day at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. Also, make sure to check out our guide to the best Winnipeg art galleries for more art in the city!
Land Acknowledgements
Winnipeg is located on Treaty No. 1 the original lands and waters of Anishinaabe, Ininiwak, Anishininiwak, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation.
History of the Winnipeg Art Gallery
The Winnipeg Art Gallery holds over 27,000 artworks in total and is home to the largest public display of contemporary Inuit art. With an emphasis on Canadian and Indigenous art, its building complex consists of a main building with 11,000 square metres (120,000 sq ft) of indoor space and the adjacent 3,700-square-metre (40,000 sq ft) Qaumajuq building. The two are interconnected, so your admission will give you entry to both. There is also a rooftop sculpture garden.
Although the gallery’s history can be traced back to the late 19th century, Winnipeg did not have a large, permanent art gallery until the late 1960s. Once a plot of land was acquired, building began, and the Winnipeg Art Gallery was completed in 1971. Designed by Canadian architect Gustavo Da Roza, the gallery was officially opened to the public on September 25, 1971.
Numerous additions and exhibits have taken place since then, the most prominent of which was the building of Qaumajuq. Housing the gallery’s collection of Inuit art, Qaumajuq was opened to the public on March 25, 2021, and was designed by Michael Maltzan.
Location and Parking
The Winnipeg Art Gallery is located at 300 Memorial Boulevard. It is extremely accessible from downtown Winnipeg by car or public buses and quite walkable from many central neighbourhoods.
There is quite a bit of paid street parking near the Winnipeg Art Gallery, but you should be mindful of the parking hours. Street parking charges are in effect Monday through Saturday (8 am to 5:30 pm), with free parking on Sundays and holidays. There is also two-hour complimentary downtown parking on Saturdays between 8 am and 5:30 pm.
There are also several paid parkades around the art gallery, one of the largest being directly across the street from it.
Opening Hours
The Winnipeg Art Gallery is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. From Wednesdays to Sundays, it is open from 11 am to 5 pm.
In 2024, the WAG is open with regular hours on New Year’s Day, Louis Riel Day, Easter Sunday, Victoria Day, Terry Fox Day, Labour Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Remembrance Day, and Boxing Day. It is open for limited hours on Christmas Eve, from 11 am to 2 pm.
Note that in 2024, the Winnipeg Art Gallery will be closed on Good Friday, Easter Monday, Canada Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.
Admission Rates
The admission to the Winnipeg Art Gallery is as follows:
- Adult: $18
- Senior (65+): $15
- Youth (under 18): Free
- Indigenous Peoples: Free
- Members: Free
Canada Life Free Sundays occur on the second Sunday of every month (so the gallery is free for everyone on those days).
Permanent Collections
Approximately 70 percent of the permanent collection was gifted to the museum by private donors. Galleries 1 and 2 have permanent collections of European and Canadian art, and here, you’ll find paintings, sculpture, furniture, and decorative arts from 1500 to 1900. Some artists featured include the 17th-century painters Pieter Brueghel the Younger, Jan Davidsz de Heem, and Jan Steen. Other artists featured in the permanent collections include George Agnew Reid, Maurice Utrillo, Juan Carreño de Miranda, Augustus John, and Homer Ransford Watson.
Elsewhere in the gallery, you’ll find a lot of Canadian art. The permanent collections feature works from Canadian artists from the 1820s to the present day, including a sizable collection of modern art. Canadian artists showcased at the gallery include Emily Carr, Paul Kane, Maurice Cullen, Mary Riter Hamilton, Lionel LeMoine Fitzgerald, David Milne, Eleanor Bond, Wanda Koop, and many more. Furthermore, a lot of art by the Group of Seven, the Regina Five, and the Painters Eleven can be seen throughout the WAG.
Temporary Collections
What makes visiting the Winnipeg Art Gallery so exciting is that there is almost always something new to see. With numerous featured exhibitions on display throughout the year, there’s always the chance to see innovative and influential art from around the world.
As of May 2024, some of the exhibitions on display include Inuit Sanaugangit – Art Across Time (a survey of Inuit artistic expression from approximately 200 BCE until the present day), Omalluq – Pictures From My Life (drawings completed by renowned carver Omalluq Oshutsiaq in the last two years of her life), Animating the Figure with Photography (an exhibit considering the medium of photography and its relationship to the human figure), and Kim Adams – Earth Wagons (featuring the artist’s “assemblage” sculptures), to name a few.
Check out the current exhibitions at the WAG here.
Qaumajuq
One of the main draws of visiting the Winnipeg Art Gallery is the recent addition of Qaumajuq. One of our top picks for Indigenous experiences in Manitoba, this first-of-its-kind centre is the largest public collection of contemporary Inuit art in the world and is well worth a visit. Featuring over 14,000 Inuit carvings, drawings, sculptures, prints, paintings, textiles, and new media, the building itself is architecturally beautiful, too (make sure to check out the glass Visible Vault in the main lobby).
With an aim to build a “vibrant gathering place where all are welcome and where everyone’s stories are told and heard in a true spirit of reconciliation,” Qaumajuq is an engaging, accessible space to experience art in new ways.
Tours at the WAG
There are several ways to learn more about the art at the WAG, including talks, tours, and films. While group tour options are available year-round (as long as you book at least two weeks in advance), there are also some drop-in tours available throughout the year.
Can’t make a trip to the gallery just yet? WAG offers virtual tours, too.
Food and Drink
Katita Café is on the main floor of the Winnipeg Art Gallery. This means “let’s get together” in Inuktitut. Katita [kah-tee-tah] sells coffee, tea, and a few light bites. Seating is limited, although there are a few benches nearby as well. Please note you cannot take any food or drinks into the exhibits.
For restaurants nearby, check out our article on the best restaurants in Winnipeg (anything downtown is not too far away, nor is Osborne or Corydon Village).
Winnipeg Art Gallery Shop
The Winnipeg Art Gallery’s gift shop is called ShopWAG. It sells prints, carvings, jewellery, stationery, clothing, toys, books, and so much more, some of which are one-of-a-kind pieces by local artists and makers. Members of the Winnipeg Art Gallery get a 10% discount on nearly all items in-store and online.
Accessibility at the WAG
The WAG is entirely wheelchair accessible, and wheelchairs are available to borrow at the front desk. There are a few accessible parking spots directly in front of the gallery on Memorial Boulevard. There is a universal washroom on every floor of WAG-Qaumajuq, and there are washrooms with change tables on the first, third, and fourth floors.
Adapted tours are available if booked in advance. These tours encourage the experience of art through the senses. Additionally, there is The Art to Inspire program for people living with dementia and their support workers. Contact the gallery for more information on both options.
WAG-Qaumajuq is a member of the Canoo program, which gives eligible newcomers to Canada free access. Learn more about Canoo here.
Other Things to Do at the WAG
The WAG hosts many events throughout the year, including rooftop dance parties, movie screenings, and meditation and sound bath experiences. Keep an eye on the WAG events page for more.
Another fantastic way to get involved with the WAG is through its many classes and workshops. Both youth and adult classes are available, and you can learn everything from pottery to watercolour painting to digital drawing.
Looking for more things to do in Winnipeg? Here are some ideas:
Brenna Holeman (she/her) has adventured to over 100 countries but is incredibly proud to call Winnipeg home. Brenna spent 16 years travelling solo around the world, living in Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Osaka, Antigua, and London, England. Once a writer and editor for Expedia UK, she is a co-founder of Road Trip Manitoba and also runs This Battered Suitcase, one of the most trusted and respected travel blogs in the world.
