Cultural spaces bring communities together by giving people venues where they can enjoy the creative works that celebrate our identity and heritage while strengthening our economy.
Today, Lisa Hepfner, Member of Parliament (Hamilton Mountain), announced $950,000 in funding for the Art Gallery of Hamilton. She made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages.
This Canada Cultural Spaces Fund investment supports the first phase of the Art Gallery of Hamilton's expansion project, laying the groundwork for major renovations to the existing gallery space. These improvements will ensure the Gallery continues to be a vibrant cultural hub for the Hamilton community and beyond.
The planned renovations include a four-story extension to the south part of the building, creating space for a new permanent exhibit gallery, expanded collection storage, and a new front entrance that will improve visitor circulation and accessibility. The facility's permanent exhibit gallery will grow by 70 percent, and a 745-square-metre exhibit gallery will be added. These enhancements will allow the Gallery to showcase more of its collection and host larger, more diverse exhibitions.
With these upgrades, the Art Gallery of Hamilton expects annual attendance to increase to 300,000 visitors, as it will be able to offer more opportunities for residents and visitors experience art and culture.
This project reflects the Government of Canada's commitment to support the arts, heritage and culture for all Canadians.
