Sharing the Passion: 70 Years of Building the Collection

Sharing the Passion: 70 Years of Building the Collection

14 March to 19 July 2026

Adad Hannah, Alex Colville, Alexander Young (A.Y.) Jackson, Billy Gauthier, Claude Tousignant, Cornelius Krieghoff, David Hockney, Deanna Bowen, Dondi White, Doug Kirton, Edward Burtynsky, Elizabeth Eastman, Frederick Horsman Varley, Gabriel Cohen, Imogen Cunningham, Isabelle Hayeur, Jack Bush, Jamelie Hassan, James Edward Hervey (J.E.H.) MacDonald, Jane Buyers, Jean McEwen, Jean-Paul Riopelle, Joseph Albers, Joseph Tisiga, Joyce Wieland, Ken Danby, Kenojuak Ashevak, Kent Monkman, Lawren Harris, Lois Andison, Louis Marius Amorim Ferreira de Moraes, Lynne Cohen, Marc Chagall, Marcel Barbeau, Maurice Cullen, Meryl McMaster, Michael Snow, Michael Thompson, Monica Tap, Norval Morrisseau, Pablo Picasso, Pardiss Amerian, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Rita Letendre, Salvador Dali, Scott Conarroe, Shary Boyle, Sophia Mazaraki Kalogeropoulou, Tom Thomson, Tony Urquhart, Tristram Lansdowne, Victor Vasarely, Yvarel

Organized by KWAG Curatorial Department

On 21 September 1956, the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery Association celebrated the official opening of the Gallery with an exhibition of paintings by artist Tom Thomson, made possible with loans from private and public collections, including the National Gallery, Ottawa. A.Y. Jackson’s remarks opened the exhibition. Seventy years later, KWAG continues to be a leader in the commissioning, display, research and care for the most exciting contemporary artists working today across the region, province, country and beyond. 

As we celebrate our history and look out towards an exciting future, we embrace the stories and relationships of donors who have supported the Gallery over the years. Today, KWAG cares for more than 4,400 works of art in the Permanent Collection. This collection is held in the public trust – a special resource for the Waterloo Region and an incomparable gem in our community. Without the support and generosity of individual supporters, a Permanent Collection of this scope and quality simply would not be possible. In fact, donations and bequests represent roughly 95% of the Collection today.

Walk through the decades of KWAG history as we shine a light on the significant stories and relationships that have made the Gallery what it is today, as told through the Permanent Collection and the people who made it all possible.

Related Programs:

Opening Celebration 
   Friday, 13 March
   6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Member’s Preview
   7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Open to the public
   Free | Live music courtesy of the KW Symphony Orchestra

Sharing the Passion: Panel Discussion
   Saturday, 28 March
   2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
   Free
 
Through the Registrar’s Eyes
   A special tour with Jennifer Bullock, KWAG Registrar + Assistant Curator
   Thursday 23 April, 7:00 p.m.
   Sunday, 31 May, 2:00 p.m.
   Free, RSVP Required (note: both tours are the same)

Ways to Support KWAG

70 for 70 Campaign Benefits:

• Tax receipt for the full amount of your donation
• Recognition in our 2026 Annual Report and Donor Wall
• Subscription to KWAG e-newsletter updates
• Invitation to donor recognition event

Support an Artwork Benefits:

• All 70 for 70 benefits listed above
• Name recognition next to sponsored artwork for the duration of the exhibition
• Website acknowledgment

Support an Artwork

Which artwork speaks to you?

Through Support an Artwork, you can make a direct contribution toward the care and conservation of a work in this anniversary exhibition. Your support helps protect these artworks for future generations while creating a meaningful personal connection to the Collection. 

To support an artwork in Sharing the Passion, please use the Canada Helps link in the button below. Tax receipts will be issued via Canada Helps. A minimum of $500 donation ensures that your name will be displayed alongside the artwork, as well as in our donor recognition screen in the lobby. For more information about Support an Artwork, please email Trisha Kelley at tkelley@kwag.on.ca 

Become a Member

KWAG members are an essential part of our community. By becoming a member, you help the Gallery continue to offer inspiring encounters with art for everyone. Memberships start at just $70 annually and include exclusive perks while supporting the future of art in the Kitchener-Waterloo region. For more information about Membership options, please email Trisha Kelley at tkelley@kwag.on.ca