Civic Art Collection

The Civic Art Collection comprises fine art, photographs, war memorials, monuments, sculptures, and significant plaques. It plays a significant role in reflecting and preserving our cultural heritage, including community identity, values, cultural heritage, Indigenous heritage, and artistic diversity. The collection is guided by the Public Art Policy, currently under review.

Collection goals

The collection has five core goals:

Provide access to public art for all St. Catharines citizens.
Enhance St. Catharines' appeal as a community by creating attractive living, working, and recreational spaces.
Honour, preserve, and promote our cultural heritage and artistic diversity.
Promote civic identity by raising awareness of and preserving the community's history, cultures, and living arts.
Support effective urban planning, economic development, and cultural tourism opportunities.

Collection locations

You can find works from our Civic Art Collection displayed throughout the city, including:

The committee rooms, hallways and grounds of City Hall
Centennial Gardens
FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
Kiwanis Aquatics Centre
St. Catharines Public Library
St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre
Jaycee Park
Lakeside Park
Memorial Park
Montebello Park
Rennie Park
Victoria Lawn Cemetery
Bogart Park

Acquisitions

The Arts and Culture Advisory Committee advises staff on artwork selection processes, the acceptance of donations, and artwork deaccession. Artwork is purchased for inclusion in the Civic Art Collection, with a particular focus on the Annual Juried Exhibition, which highlights local artists.

The Cultural Services Division reviews and collaborates on community-initiated projects and develops new public art projects. Visit our Art Exhibits page for information on our latest exhibits and acquisitions.