Market Wing Cultural Space
Market Wing Cultural Space
About the Project
The Market Wing Cultural Space is a new, accessible site for cultural programming and exhibitions located within Kingston City Hall. The Market Wing Cultural Space combines cultural heritage and the arts to highlight Kingston, and to explore a diversity of histories, stories, and ideas relevant to residents and visitors alike.
The Market Wing Cultural Space includes dedicated space to showcase Indigenous history and culture and the people who have lived in this area since time immemorial. The development of this content will begin in 2023.
The exhibitions and programs respond to the findings that have emerged through the “Your Stories, Our Histories” project that call for sharing stories and installations that reflect diversity and inclusion; that create space for new and/or alternative perspectives on history; that share Indigenous history and culture; and that disrupt the dominant colonial narratives presented throughout City Hall.
What's On
The inaugural exhibitions includes a re-mount of the popular exhibition Ontario Street: Brewers, Bakers and Boiler Makers, 1830-1970, previously presented at the PumpHouse Museum, along with Then & Now, a temporary exhibition that highlights the work of Kingston-based artists who have been asked to respond to a selection of historic images of Kingston.
For Then & Now, the City issued an open call for submissions to Kingston-based artists. Six local artists are featured in this exhibition including Sasha Hill, Skot Caldwell, Brian Houtman, Pengyuan Wang, Natalie Bohnen-Twiddy, and Bethany Garner. To support the exhibition, the City’s Public Art Program features a temporary installation of selected historic images of Kingston, located at the corner of Brock and Ontario Street, across the street from the Market Wing Cultural Space.
FAQ's
Why was the Market Wing Cultural Space created?
The space was created to:
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Provide opportunities to highlight stories and storytelling through a combination of exhibitions and programs that reflect issues, themes and ideas that are relevant and meaningful to the Kingston community and that help to address thematic gaps identified through community consultation.
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Provide space to present Indigenous history and culture related to the Kingston region.
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Leverage space for arts-based exhibitions, programs and experiences that raise the profile of the local arts ecology and that fosters support for emerging artists and the creative industry in Kingston.
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Implement and evaluate a proof of concept regarding the use of Kingston City Hall for presenting the arts, heritage and culture in an integrated way that informs future planning and the strategic investment of resources across the City.
Is this new space an art gallery?
This is not a designated art gallery or arts hub, but rather an inclusive cultural space that blends heritage and the arts to deliver unique exhibitions and programming. There will be opportunities for local artists to be involved, but it will not function as a community or City gallery.
Who is managing and programming the space?
The space will be managed and programmed by the curators and program coordinators as part of Cultural Heritage team in the Cultural Services Department at the City of Kingston. The Cultural Heritage team operated two City-owned museums including the PumpHouse Steam Museum and the MacLachlan Woodworking Museum, as well as national historic site, Kingston City Hall. The Cultural Heritage team will also collaborate with the Arts & Sector Development team on arts-relates exhibitions and programs.
How does City Hall function as a National Historic Site?
Kingston City Hall (216 Ontario Street) is a National Historic Site and remains the centre for administering and governing the City of Kingston. City Hall is also home to cultural exhibitions and programs including permanent displays featuring the Civic Collection, temporary exhibitions, a seasonal tour program, heritage lectures, art installations, and curriculum-focused educational programs. The addition of the new Market Wing Cultural Space provides a unique opportunity to expand opportunities to tell Kingston stories that support a vibrant and sustainable cultural sector.
Project News
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Summer 2020
Renovation of Market Wing -
September – October 2020
Open Call for Submissions to local artists for Then & Now -
October 2020
Renovation complete -
November 2020
Installation of inaugural exhibitions -
February 27, 2021
Market Wing Cultural Space opens to the public -
2023
Installation of Indigenous exhibitions and programming