MacLaren Art Centre

About

The MacLaren is building a creative future for our community by offering art classes, tours and workshops, fostering local talent, and providing unique experiences through our collection, our exhibitions and our public art projects.

Story

The MacLarenArtCentre is the regional public art gallery serving the residents of Barrie, the County of Simcoe and the surrounding area. The Gallery has a permanent collection of 26,600 works of art held in trust for the public and presents a year-round programme of world-class exhibitions, public art projects, education activities and special events.

It is an architectural landmark: originally the Carnegie library, it has been renovated with a remarkable and exquisite contemporary addition designed by Siamak Hariri of Hariri Pontarini Architects. The complex includes multiple galleries, an education centre, a sculpture courtyard, café, gift shop and framing department. As a cornerstone of culture for Barrie, the MacLaren is a visual arts centre that adds to the social, intellectual, creative and economic fabric of this community.

The MacLaren is committed to building a vibrant, healthy and creative community. Exhibitions, workshops, special events and community activities nurture artistic talent, inspire creativity and stimulate intellectual curiosity. Our award-winning education department offers art appreciation and hands-on programmes for all ages, interests and abilities including lectures, panels, artist talks, publications and gallery tours; art classes and camps; after-school youth workshops; artist-led programmes in the schools; and Sunday, art-making activities for families. In 2011, we reached over 56,000 people through our programmes at the Gallery, in the schools and in the community, including 26,000 children and youth. Last year, we presented 31 exhibitions and offered 710 arts education activities. Through VanGo we delivered 427 studio programmes to 8,985 students from Kindergarten to Grade 8 in Simcoe County.