The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia is soon to celebrate their 100th year. It began life as the Nova Scotia Museum of Fine Arts and has has many homes, including a powder magazine in the Halifax Citadel. It moved into it's current building, a fine old Victorian heap, in 1988 and 10 years later, the AGNS took over two floors of a neighbouring building as well. The two are connected underground by another exhibition space. The main building is the 1865 Dominion Building at what used to be called "Cheapside" but is now flanked by Hollis Street and Bedford Row. It is only steps from the ferry terminal and waterfront where there is a pay and display parking lot.
The Art Gallery has permanent exhibitions that celebrate Nova Scotian, eastern provincial, and Canadian art and has a special gallery on Maud Lewis, a folk artist who painted bright coloured works on anything she could find. In recent years, the gallery has hosted some amazing travelling exhibitions including Impressionist works, Egyptian art and mummies, a Rodin perspective, and a study of Marilyn Monroe. At entry fees of $12.00 for adults (discounted for Seniors and children, with family rates as well), it's a little on the pricey side for Halifax but it's well worth a visit. The gallery shop is comprehensive and the cafe is one of the nicest and most elegant places to have lunch downtown yet with reasonable prices.
The gallery holds art classes and workshops, especially for kids but also for adults. They sometimes have lunchtime events and often have films and tours.
Check the website for events each month.
Opening hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and open Thursday evenings until 9 p.m. Daily tours at 2:30 p.m. and on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. as well. The gallery is fully wheelchair accessible with ramps and lifts.
From journal Halifax, My Home