Everything you Need to Know About Whistler’s Museums and Galleries

March 12, 2015
Whistler art and museum

If you’ve been to Whistler lately – specifically near parking lots 3 and 4 – you’ve probably noticed that a rather substantial building is being built.

That would be the future home of the Audain Art Museum, scheduled to open this coming fall. The 56,000 square foot Audain Art Museum will feature both permanent and temporary exhibits of fine art from British Columbia. It has already generated quite a bit of buzz in the art community, and we have a feeling that Whistler will soon become a must-visit destination for art lovers from around the world.

What art lovers might not know is that Whistler is already a vibrant art community – the Audain Art Museum is just the (very big, very delicious) icing on the cake. While we eagerly await the museum’s opening, here are some other local art hotspots to check out around town.

The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre

The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Cente (or SLCC) is a magnificent building where two First Nations peoples from the Whistler area – the Squamish Nation and the Lil’wat Nation – share their art, culture, and history with the local community. Exhibits, films, and interactive displays offer plenty of learning opportunities.

The gift shop is the perfect place to pick up a distinctly BC memento, and the venue makes a gorgeous backdrop for a wedding, conference, or other special event. If you haven’t yet visited the SLCC, put it on your to do list.

whistler-museums-and-art

The Whistler Museum

Despite being a young community, Whistler has plenty of history. Artifacts – natural, man-made, serious, and funny – are on display in the museum’s location behind the library. It’s the perfect place to learn about local heroes and characters and to gain an appreciation for our beautiful surroundings. Ask about their upcoming events – they often feature interesting speaker series and debates.

ArtWalk

Whistler Real Estate Company is proud to be a sponsor of ArtWalk, an ongoing event that takes place throughout the summer months in Whistler.

The concept is simple: local and regional artists display their best pieces in businesses around town. Art lovers are provided with a passport and are encouraged to visit the various exhibiting venues around town. It’s a great, casual way to check out the local talent – and, believe us, there is lots of it.

art-in-whistler

Whistler’s Galleries

Whistler is spoiled with some pretty incredible galleries. Whether you’re shopping for the perfect piece of Whistler artwork or you’re just browsing for fun, we encourage you to stop by some of the local galleries to see what lies inside.

For instance, Fathom Stone Arts specialized in hand-carved jade pieces that are impossibly smooth, while the Whistler Village Art Gallery (which has two locations) focuses on all kinds of contemporary art. Then there’s Blake Jorgenson’s gallery in the Westin, featuring the works of an incredibly talented local action sports photographer.

Fair warning: you might be tempted to pick up so many pieces that you’ll end up with a museum of your own. But hey – you’ll be in good company. After all, Whistler is for art lovers.

 


Community
View Favourites

Compare listings

Compare