Arts & Culture

Ali Cherri: To Fall, Patiently

June 13 – October 10, 2026 at Gairloch Gardens & Centennial Square

Influenced by the vibrant art scene of 1990s postwar Beirut, and exploring geographies of violence in the broader region, Ali Cherri’s practice spans across film, performance, sculpture, drawing, and installations. His work interrogates how political violence resonates through generations as well as physical and cultural landscapes.

Oakville Art Society Presents: Out of the Blue Members’ Exhibition

May 12 – September 1, 2026 at Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre

This season’s theme, “Out of the Blue,” artists explored the colour blue as the dominant element in their work—whether through mood, symbolism, atmosphere, or abstraction. From calm and introspective to bold and unexpected, see their talented artists interpret the theme in their own unique way.

Taste of Art on the Bluffs

May 16 – June 3, 2026 at Sovereign House

Join the Bronte Historical Society for a delightful art show. Immerse yourself in the creative works of talented local artists while touring the historic Sovereign House.

Les Fleurs du Mal Group Exhibition

February 28 – May 24, 2026 at Gairloch Gardens & Centennial Square

The exhibition brings together works that explore flowers, gardens and the acts of mourning and remembrance. Grappling with the complexities of loss and the thresholds between life and death, the works in the exhibition consider memorialization, materiality and embodiment.

It Belongs in a Museum! How and Why Museums Collect and Preserve

February 14, 2026 – January 2027 at Erchless Estate

One of the most quotable lines from the Indiana Jones films is the hero telling bad guys that “it belongs in a museum!”. It Belongs in a Museum takes you behind the “Artifact Storage” sign to explain how and why the Oakville Museum acquires and cares for the artifacts in its collections.

Worn to Be: The Roles We Inhabit, the Clothes We Assume

January 23, 2026 – January 2027 at Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre

Worn to Be invites visitors to explore the profound ways that uniforms and ceremonial wear shape our identities. This exhibition highlights five themes that reveal how they influence perception, behaviour, and culture.

Good Libations

October 25, 2025 – October 2026 at Erchless Estate

Visitors are invited to learn how alcohol stirred up some complex dynamics in Oakville’s past. Dive into the Town’s boozy backstory, spotlighting its people, business and the policies and movements that continue to shape its alcohol related social customs.

Ilya & Emilia Kabakov – The Ship of Tolerance

May 31, 2025 – September 30, 2026 at Gairloch Gardens

Marking its 20th anniversary and debut presentation in Canada, The Ship of Tolerance at Oakville Galleries brings together over 2,000 local children to create the ship’s sails—sparking dialogue around inclusivity, cultural diversity, respect, and visions for the future. Through collaborative conversations and creative expression, these young participants translate their ideas of tolerance into vibrant paintings, shaping a shared vision of understanding and possibility.

At Home in Bronte Muskoka Chair Display – Winter Edition in Bronte Village

Visitors are invited to bundle up and get outside to walk, push and cycle to Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park and the local business district to see – and use – 100 professionally painted Muskoka chairs. In partnership with ArtHouse Halton, Sheridan College and other local artists, the Bronte BIA has doubled the number of chairs from last winter!

History of Sledge Hockey

Sixteen Mile Sports Complex 

What is sledge hockey? Sledge Hockey of Canada (SHOC) was established over twenty-five years ago. Learn about the history of the sport, the rules of the game and get introduced to some of its leading athletes, some of which call Oakville home.

The Underground Railroad: Next Stop Freedom

Permanent Exhibit at Erchless Estate 

In this exciting and moving multi-media presentation, the ghost of Deborah Brown tells the true story of her heroic flight from a life of slavery in Maryland to her new life of freedom in 19th-century Toronto. Presentation available in French and English.

Freedom, Opportunity and Family: Oakville’s Black History

Permanent Exhibit at Erchless Estate 

Discover the stories of early Black settlers in Oakville including Branson Johnson, a freeborn African-American, who arrived with his family in 1855. His Certificate of Freedom from a Maryland court and the pocket watch in which it was hidden for many years are featured.