Special Exhibits

Special exhibits are always plentiful at Ottawa-area museums. Here are just a few of the current and upcoming exhibits (in order of end date), as well as new permanent exhibits and museum openings:

Current Exhibits

Àdisòkàmagan / Nous connaître un peu nous-mêmes / We’ll all become stories

April 28 – September 16, 2018
Ottawa Art Gallery

This inaugural exhibition at the newly reopened and expanded OAG explores 6,500 years of history and art in Canada’s capital region through more than 190 historical and contemporary works of art from different mediums including paintings, drawings, prints, films and performances. Admission to the OAG and this exhibit is free.

Death in the Ice – The Mystery of the Franklin Expedition

March 2 – September 30, 2018
Canadian Museum of History

Explore the enduring mystery behind Sir John Franklin’s tragic expedition. Leaving Britain in 1845 to chart the Northwest Passage through the Arctic, the expedition’s two ships and 129 crew men never returned. Through historical artifacts and Inuit oral history, this groundbreaking exhibition provides the most comprehensive account to date of Franklin’s final voyage.

Through the Eyes of Community: 150 Years of Ottawa’s History

April 13 – December 23, 2018
Bytown Museum

Find out how community spirit has shaped Ottawa into what it is today, from the early days of Confederation in 1867 to the present. Stories are told through the eyes of community members including a farmer, a woman, a veteran, a child, and a new immigrant.

Medieval Europe – Power and Splendour

June 8, 2018 – January 20, 2019
Canadian Museum of History

Step into the legendary world of Medieval Europe. Meet powerful monarchs and chivalric knights, devout religious leaders and talented craftsmen. Experience the opulent life of court and the bustling world of newly developing urban centres. Admire the beautiful, vibrant art for which this period is renowned and witness the formation of states and cultures still recognized today. See over 200 exquisite artifacts from the world-renowned British Museum that tell the story of this fascinating time in European history.

Space to Spoon

April 1, 2018 – April 30, 2019
Canada Agriculture and Food Museum

Discover the connection between space technology and the food on our plates through hands-on models, interactive elements and stunning graphics. You’ll also earn about the Canadian Space Agency’s Earth observation satellite, RADARSAT-2, and its cutting-edge successor, RADARSAT Constellation.

Upcoming Exhibits

Halifax Harbour 1918: Harold Gilman and Arthur Lismer

October 12, 2018 – February 18, 2019
National Gallery of Canada

In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, the National Gallery of Canada has partnered with the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia to present this exhibition, which is part of the Masterpiece in Focus series. It will examine the shared mission of Harold Gilman (1876–1919, British) and Arthur Lismer (1885–1969, Canadian) – later known for his affiliation with the Group of Seven – to record the port of Halifax, and the manner in which this Canadian War Memorials Fund commission pushed the boundaries of their artistic practice.

New Permanent Exhibits and Museum Openings

Canadian and Indigenous Galleries

Opened June 15, 2017
National Gallery of Canada

On June 15, 2017, the Gallery unveiled its re-envisioned and permanent Canadian and Indigenous Galleries. Not since its construction in 1988 has the Gallery seen such an extensive rethink of this 45,000-square-foot space. Inuit and Aboriginal art as well as contemporary art is presented in a chronological manner leading up to 2017.

Canada Goose Arctic Gallery

Opened June 21, 2017
Canadian Museum of Nature

Upon entering the gallery, the Arctic is introduced through a multimedia experience using sound, light and images, developed by the museum in partnership with the National Film Board. Visitors then enter the wing, where they immerse themselves in the Arctic’s natural history and human connections through four broad themes: climate, geography, sustainability and ecosystems. Each section features specimens or artifacts, interactive games and activities, videos and infographics to share the relevance of each theme to the story of the Arctic.

Canadian History Hall

Opened July 1, 2017
Canadian Museum of History

The much-anticipated Canadian History Hall is the largest and most comprehensive exhibition about Canadian history ever created. The enormous space takes up half of the museum’s exhibition space and features three galleries on two floors. Canadian history is explored through more than 1,500 priceless artifacts that recount 15,000 years of Canadian history – from the origins of the First Peoples on this land to the present – as well as through the experiences and voices of those who lived it.

Bank of Canada Museum

Opened July 1, 2017

Formerly known as the Currency Museum of the Bank of Canada, the Bank of Canada Museum reopened in a totally renovated building in downtown Ottawa. After entering the museum through a large glass pyramid on the corner of Bank and Wellington Streets near Parliament Hill, visitors of all ages create their own digital avatar. They are then immersed in hands-on interactive exhibits that help them learn the important role they play in the economy. Admission to this museum is always free!

Canada Science and Technology Museum

Reopened November 17, 2017

Following a $80.5-million renovation, this beloved institution reopened on November 17, 2017. The new museum combines interactive and hands-on elements with cutting-edge technologies like augmented reality. Plus, loyal visitors will be happy to see a few of their favourite classics: the huge steam locomotives and the Crazy Kitchen!

For more museum exhibits and happenings, check out our online Event Calendar.