Arts, Culture & Heritage Organizations in Kingston

Situated within territories of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and Huron-Wendat, the Agnes Etherington Art Centre is a curatorially-driven and research-intensive professional art centre that proudly serves a dual mandate as a leading, internationally recognized public art gallery and as an active pedagogical resource at Queen’s University in Kingston. By commissioning, researching, collecting and stewarding works of art, and by exhibiting and interpreting visual culture through an intersectional lens, Agnes creates opportunities for participation and exchange across communities, cultures, histories and geographies. Its collections—numbering over 17,000 works—include cutting-edge contemporary art and fine examples of Canadian historical art, Indigenous art and historicized ancestors, and material culture including the Collection of Canadian Dress and the Lang Collection of African Art. The Bader Collection, comprising over 500 works with a focus on seventeenth-century Dutch and Flemish painting, includes one portrait and three exquisite character studies by Rembrandt. Agnes is committed to anti-racism. We work to eradicate institutional biases and develop accountable programs that support and centre the artistic expression and lived experience of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour. Agnes promotes 2SLGBTQIAP+ positive spaces. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.

The Museum of Health Care at Kingston connects visitors with the experiences of people in the past to provide context and perspective on today's health issues. The Museum is Canada’s national resource for health care history. Through exhibitions, guided tours, education programs, our online collection catalogue, and a curated blog, we provide a wide ranging audience access to Canada’s rich health care past. We strive to inspire wonder, promote learning, and create knowledge that will contribute to a better future in health and health care.

A (MUSICAL) MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Shakespeare’s most popular comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is the perfect outdoor summer theatre experience for the entire family. Four lovers and one group of hapless tradespeople experience a chaos-filled night in the forest as they stumble across the mischievous Puck and the magical denizens of the faery kingdom. “It’s about community, companionship and love,” remarks Driftwood Artistic Director Jeremy Smith. “Dream reminds us of the importance of putting down our devices, stepping away from our screens, and making the kind of tangible connections which encourage empathy, understanding and respect.” Using Shakespeare’s text A (musical) Midsummer Night’s Dream is a rocking, rolling, funktastic, jazz-infused musical celebration of theatrical proportions; with everything performed live and entirely A Cappella. Originally created in 2004 and performed again in 2012, A (musical) Midsummer Night’s Dream reunites composers Kevin Fox (The Swingle Singers, Cadence) and Tom Lillington (Nathaniel Dett Chorale, Hampton Avenue) with director Jeremy Smith.

The "Friends of the Penitentiary Museum Inc." (FPM) was formed in the late 1990s. Its job: to assist with the development and operation of the only museum in Canada dedicated solely to the presentation and interpretation of the history of Canada's federal penitentiaries. The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) realized that the museum, originally established at the Correctional Staff College (Ontario) in 1967, provided a very positive link with the community at the local as well as national and international levels. To ensure the museum's continuing operation in a climate of tightening budgets, something had to be done.

H’art Centre is an award-winning registered not-for-profit, charitable community arts hub that provides artists with disabilities and those facing barriers with opportunities to create, study and produce works in the arts and collaborate with qualified, trained community artists. We do this to nurture a vibrant, exciting and supportive culture that encourages artists, staff, volunteers and audiences to reach beyond limiting beliefs and expectations. To value and recognize artists individually for their abilities, and to share this understanding with the world.

Tour Guide City Hall Tour Guides welcome visitors from around the world and guide them through our beautiful Kingston City Hall National Historic Site weaving stories and engaging visitors. Tour Guides conduct 30-45 minute tours, interpreting the history of the City of Kingston in an engaging and educational manner. Good oral communication skills and general knowledge of / interest in Kingston & Canadian history is encouraged. Occasionally guides may be asked to track visitor and tour statistics. Fluency in a second language other than English is an asset but not required. Note: Tour Guides must be able to stand for long periods of time and climb stairs. An elevator is available but in case of emergency or mechanical issues stairs will have to be used. Tour Ambassador City Hall Tour Ambassadors warmly welcome visitors to City Hall, orient them to the site and the services offered, and track visitor and tour statistics. Ambassadors are also called upon to organize visitors into groups and coordinate drop-in tour times with the Tour Guides. Ambassadors are encouraged to have a general knowledge of the history of the City of Kingston and City Hall. Fluency in a second language other than English is an asset but not a requirement. Note: This position allows for you to be seated if needed. Qualifications - Must complete a successful CPIC (reimbursement available) - Must attend one training session with City Curator - Understanding of the emergency and Health & Safety procedures of City Hall (training provided) - Ability to present yourself in a friendly and professional manner - Ability to think on your feet and adapt to changes in schedule - Available at least 2 shifts per month from mid-May to mid-October Benefits - Museum Orientation Pass – free or discounted access to certain cultural sites in Kingston - Mid-Summer Volunteer BBQ - Fall Volunteer Appreciation Dinner Fill out the application as an expression of your interest in the City's Tour Guide Program. Tour Guide Application - City of Kingston

Situated on the shores of Lake Ontario, the award-winning Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts brings together exceptional arts spaces and programs with a captivating sense of place to create a dynamic venue for Queen’s students and the community. In addition to the Performance Hall, the other spaces in the 90,000 square foot venue include a studio theatre, a film screening room and a music rehearsal hall. Embracing the principles of inclusion, interactivity, and integration, the School of Drama and Music and the Department of Film and Media share teaching and performance spaces within the Isabel. The Isabel was designed by Oslo/New York-based firm Snøhetta and Ottawa’s N45, with acoustics and theatre design by ARUP and Theatre Projects Consultants. Anchored by a transformational gift to the Initiative Campaign from Drs. Alfred and Isabel Bader, the Isabel was inspired by the Bader’s love – of the arts, of Queen’s, and of each other – and is named in Isabel’s honour.

Kingston Frontenac Public Library is a 16 branch public library system serving the City of Kingston and Frontenac County.  Our primary purpose is to make a positive difference in the lives of everyone in Kingston Frontenac. We aim to achieve this purpose by helping residents transform today’s vast information resources into the solutions, facts, know-how, inspiration, and entertainment they need to learn, solve problems, read, engage with their community and reach their personal aspirations.

The Kingston School of Art (KSOA) is a non-profit charitable organization. Formed in 1994 and governed by a community-based volunteer Board of Directors, KSOA is supported by fundraising, student fees, donations and grants. Its mission is to provide cost-effective year-round art classes, have studio-based hands-on instruction and provide practical artistic experiences. Through the creation of an inclusive and supportive environment, KSOA art space encourages artistic individuality and innovation, as well as cultivates an appreciation of the arts within the greater community. KSOA also runs the Window Art Gallery (WAG), a non-profit volunteer run community art gallery which was established in May 2011.

The Kingston School of Art is an independently operated, registered charity ​providing art education to Kingstonians of all ages and stages since 1994.

The Kingston Scout Museum was established in 2007 as a physical space, offering visitors a view of the history of Scouting in Kingston. In 2022, the building we occupied was demolished, and in late 2023, rebranded as a virtual museum. Since then, our collections and exhibits have been viewed across the country and in more than 80 countries. We continue to receive donations of artifacts that we preserve, digitize and share.

The Kingston Women’s Art Festival is run entirely by the dedication of its enthusiastic volunteers. The success of the Festival depends on many hard working hands. Every year, our volunteers help with such things as registration on the morning of the event, the silent auction throughout the day, and offering assistance to booths to give our wonderful artists washroom breaks and time to eat, to name a few.