History In 1972, the Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society included a small public art gallery in its newly renovated facility. The Crawford C. McCullough Gallery, named in honour of a local physician, exhibited local and touring exhibitions. The Gallery was very popular and soon outgrew its new quarters. Dr. John Augustine and his wife Annette Augustine, as well as other members of the Board of Directors for the Society, applied for capital funding from the Museum Assistance Program. In February, 1974, approval was given to begin construction in Thunder Bay of a National Exhibition Centre at a site by Confederation College. This was one of twenty-six Exhibition Centres established across Canada. The 4,000 square foot facility, officially opened on February 6, 1976, was designed to meet environmental standards for the proper display and interpretation of traveling and local exhibitions.

Gallery Mandate As a non-profit, public art gallery, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery exhibits, collects and interprets art with a particular focus on the contemporary artwork of Canadian Aboriginal and Northwestern Ontario artists. The Gallery advances the relationship between artists, their art, and the public, nurturing a life-long appreciation of contemporary visual arts among residents of, and visitors to Thunder Bay. As the sole public art gallery in Northwestern Ontario, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery: presents exhibitions of artistic and educational value to enhance the visual arts experience of the people of Northwestern Ontario; supports and effects the development of contemporary Canadian artists with a particular focus on (but not limited to) contemporary Aboriginal artists and artists from Northwestern Ontario; programs enhancement and outreach activities in order to build audience, increase reception, and expand understanding of the visual arts. more... See more text