Port Hope Art Gallery

Port Hope is one of the best-preserved small towns in Ontario, and its art scene fits the character of its streets. The town stands on the north shore of Lake Ontario, where the Ganaraska River reaches the lake, and its downtown is a long run of 19th-century brick and stone storefronts that is protected as a heritage district. Walton Street, the main street, is lined with shops, cafés and galleries, and the setting has drawn painters and craftspeople for generations. The gallery here is understood to be connected to the regional Art Gallery of Northumberland, which also operates in nearby Cobourg, and it shows work in a small, welcoming setting.

The gallery's programme centres on changing exhibitions. Shows typically feature regional artists alongside national and emerging names, and the medium varies, from painting and drawing to fabric art, illustration and pottery. Some exhibitions draw on community projects, with local artists and schools taking part, and the gallery is an easy place to get a sense of what is being made in Northumberland County. Because exhibitions change several times a year, a second visit often brings a completely different show.

The setting is part of the appeal. The building is within a short walk of the old Town Hall, the library and the river trail, so it fits neatly into a stroll along Walton Street. The downtown has the look of an earlier century, with iron balconies, brick cornices and carefully maintained shop fronts, and it has served as a film location for productions that needed an old-fashioned Ontario main street. Visitors can wander along the Ganaraska River and look at the bridge, then continue to the harbour and East Beach on Lake Ontario.

Admission to the gallery is free, though donations are appreciated. Opening days and hours are limited, so check the gallery's current schedule before travelling, since exhibitions may be installed or changed on closed days.

The gallery suits people who enjoy browsing small collections and who like to combine culture with a walk through a heritage town. Fabric artists, potters and illustrators often find their way here, and the shops nearby sell local crafts. A visit takes about thirty minutes to an hour, which makes it an easy addition to a day trip from Toronto or Kingston.