Skip to main content

Visit Us


Nanaimo Art Gallery

150 Commercial Street
Nanaimo, British Columbia
CANADA V9R 5G6
+1 (250) 754-1750


Admission

Admission by Donation, suggested donation is $5.

Complimentary admission for those who identify as Indigenous.


Hours of Operation

Tuesday–Saturday10am–5pm
Sunday12pm–5pm

Everyone is welcome and admission is by-donation.


Rentals Inquiry

Interested in booking a space at Nanaimo Art Gallery? Please fill out this form and a staff member will get back to you.

Name(Required)
Please let us know preferred dates and times for your event, description of event, and how many people you expect to attend.

The nearest intersection is Commercial Street at Bastion. We are located between Flying Fish and Mon Petit Choux in the heart of downtown Nanaimo.

By Public Transit

Southbound from Woodgrove Centre take the 20, 30, or 50 routes. The nearest stop is at Wallace and Fitzwilliam. From there, pass over the Bastion Street Bridge and walk to Commercial Street.

Northbound from Southgate Plaza take the 7 route and depart at the Main Bus exchange, located at 1 Port Place, across the street from Port Place Mall. From there, walk along Terminal Avenue and turn right on to Commercial Street.

By Car

From South Island, stay on Highway 1 (Nicol Street) into downtown Nanaimo. Just past Port Place Mall turn right on to Commercial Street. The Gallery is three blocks up on the right side of the street.

From North Island, turn left at Exit 18, Jingle Pot Road/City Centre and continue down Third Street. Third Street will turn into Fitzwilliam Street, and Fitzwilliam Street will then turn into Bastion. The Gallery is one unit down from Bastion & Commercial Street intersection.

From Terminal Avenue/Island Highway, turn left onto Comox Road, then turn right on to Chapel Street, which will lead to Commercial Street. The Gallery is just past the Bastion & Commercial intersection on the left side of the street.

Parking

The nearest parkade is on the corner of Bastion & Fitzwilliam Streets behind the Royal Bank. Parking is free at this location after 5pm on weekdays and all day on Saturday & Sundays.

Paid street parking is available.

The nearest accessible parking spot is located one block South on Commercial Street in front of the Harbourfront Library and Vancouver Island Conference Centre. 

There is no public parking lot for Gallery visitors.
For more information on downtown Nanaimo parking, please visit: https://www.nanaimo.ca/transportation-mobility/parking

Bicycles

There is a bike rack located beside the exterior doors of Art Lab, towards Bastion St.

Accessibility

Nanaimo Art Gallery is wheelchair accessible. Street-level access is located via our front entrance on Commercial Street. There are two sets of double automated doors to pass through before entering the Gallery. The first set of automated double doors enters into a lobby. Inside the lobby there is another automated double door to the right. Going in, the access button for each set of doors is located next to the hinge of the left-side door, and the right door is automated. Art Lab doors are also accessible via street level access on Commercial Street; the exterior doors are automated.

We are currently improving our sensory accessibility, and will soon have accessibility guides for each exhibition, along with image descriptions, audio, visual, tactile, and interactive information on each artwork and accompanying didactic materials. It is also our goal to have audio didactics and descriptions available for download, as well as upon request at the front desk.

We understand that access needs are individual and varied, and are committed to making Nanaimo Art Gallery an inclusive, welcoming, and accessible space for all visitors. If you would like to discuss your individual needs at the Gallery, please contact bailey pitt at [email protected] or 250-754-1750.

Washrooms

A single room, gender neutral washroom is available both inside the Gallery and inside Art Lab. The counter tops in each washroom are 32” high. Change tables are available in both washrooms.

Seating

While seating in each exhibition varies slightly, we always have folding stools available upon request. Our event chairs have no arms.

Service Animals

A service animal may accompany a visitor to all public areas of the Gallery.

Our Scent Policy

We are a scent-reduced environment. We use scent-free, earth-friendly janitorial and bathroom products, however the Gallery Store sells scented soaps and perfumes, and occasionally works of art in the exhibition may emit a slight scent depending on the products and materials used.

ćuý'ulhnamut

ćuý’ulhnamut

Nanaimo Art Gallery is situated in the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of Snuneymuxw First Nations, and we are grateful to operate on Snuneymuxw territory.

ćuý'ulhnamut

ćuý'ulhnamut

Nanaimo Art Gallery is situated in the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of Snuneymuxw First Nations, and we are grateful to operate on Snuneymuxw territory.