About the Gallery

About the Grimsby Public Art Gallery

The Grimsby Public Art Gallery (GPAG) was founded in 1975 as a committee of the Grimsby Public Library Board, creating an active and accessible community art gallery in the lower level of the Library. In 1999, the Gallery became a separate sub-department of the Town of Grimsby, although we still shared a building with the Library. In 2004 both Gallery and Library moved into a new purpose–built facility that has significantly enhanced our ability to fulfill all aspects of our mandate.

Many of the Gallery's most popular programs, including Wayzgoose, our internationally celebrated book arts fair, and Art in the Schools, our education program of in-school exhibitions, as well as our special focus on multiples and works on paper, were established during the first few years of the Gallery's existence. Since then, GPAG's focus has expanded to include fine craft, popular culture, and environmental art.

Mandate

To be a public, non‑profit gallery serving the Town of Grimsby and surrounding area
To be dedicated to the exhibition, preservation, encouragement, and collection of visual art of professional standard
To provide lectures, seminars, workshops, tours and other forms of public education relating to visual art

Forging and maintaining connections with our community is of primary importance and we do this through our careful selection and presentation of exhibitions and programs. We preserve art by our responsible care of the permanent collection. We encourage visual art by maintaining a gallery that is open and welcoming to all visitors and by offering a range of thought provoking art and related programs.

The Gallery Shop

Located in the Grimsby Public Art Gallery, the Gallery Shop offers a wide array of exclusively Canadian, handcrafted giftware with much of its stock coming from regional, Canadian artists.

Stop by to see us in person for all of your gift giving needs.

Volunteering

Volunteers have been an integral part of GPAG since the Gallery was founded in 1975. Originally known as the Women’s Committee, members of the Volunteer Committee of the Grimsby Public Art Gallery have worked side by side with Gallery staff to ensure that art and culture is available for all residents of Grimsby and the Niagara region.

This has included organizing the annual fundraising auction, assisting with educational programs as tour guides, moving Art in the Schools displays in the community, and by helping at events as varied as Wayzgoose, gallery openings, and community festivals. Simply put, GPAG would not be the amazing organization it is today without the work of numerous volunteers. While most members of the Volunteer Committee are adults, the Gallery also has a strong commitment to youth and teenaged volunteers. All ages are welcomed.

We are extremely grateful for all that our volunteers have done and continue to do for the Gallery.