McMichael Canadian Art Collection closes July 26 for three-year redevelopment
The Kleinburg gallery will undergo its first major renovation in 40+ years, adding exhibition space and modernizing facilities. Reopens in 2029.
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The McMichael Canadian Art Collection will close to the public on the evening of July 26 to begin a landmark redevelopment of its building and grounds in Kleinburg.
Construction is expected to begin in fall 2026 and be completed in 2029. Canadian firm Hariri Pontarini Architects is leading the project, which marks the first major investment in the McMichael site in more than 40 years.
The redevelopment will add 60 per cent more space for exhibitions, education, conservation and public programming while modernizing outdated building systems and facilities. It will also add state-of-the-art classrooms and studios, along with purpose-built spaces for events, concerts, lectures, conferences and dining.
The total cost of the project is estimated at $150 million. The Ontario government pledged up to $50 million over three years, and the federal government committed an additional $25 million through its Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program. The remainder comes from private donations.
During construction, much of the McMichael's landmark collection of almost 8,000 artworks will remain accessible through touring exhibitions of Canadian art across the country and abroad. The permanent collection includes masterworks by Tom Thomson, the Group of Seven and their contemporaries, as well as generations of Indigenous artists including Norval Morrisseau, Kent Monkman, Daphne Odjig and Jut-Ke-Nay Hazel Wilson.
The details
When does the McMichael Canadian Art Collection close?
The McMichael Canadian Art Collection closes to the public on the evening of July 26, 2026.
When will the McMichael reopen after redevelopment?
The McMichael Canadian Art Collection will reopen in 2029 after construction is completed.
How much exhibition space will the redevelopment add?
The redevelopment will add 60 per cent more space for exhibitions, education, conservation and public programming at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection.
What's the total cost of the McMichael redevelopment?
The total cost is estimated at $150 million, with $50 million pledged by the Ontario government, $25 million from the federal government, and the remainder from private donations.
