Art in Cambridge: 7 spots to explore your creative side!

Stimulate your creative senses at curated galleries and exhibitions designed to preserve and share our community stories.

Whether you’re an enjoyer of contemporary art forms, an appreciator of outdoor installations, or just looking to flex your right brain, Cambridge’s galleries, exhibitions, and installations are curated spaces for you to get up close and personal with community stories that drive creativity.

Cambridge Centre for the Arts | 60 Dickson Street

The Cambridge Centre for the Arts is our City-owned and operated centre dedicated to community arts and programming. Tap into a new-found passion with a course or workshop offered at the Centre, ranging from drawing and painting to dancing and sewing. The Cambridge Centre for the Arts also hosts special events and residency programs, as well as its very own curated art gallery. The art gallery exhibits pieces produced by local artists based in Cambridge and the surrounding areas. 

Visit the Cambridge Centre for the Arts website here to learn more about upcoming events and exhibitions.

Dorothy Harvey Gallery | 50 Dickson Street

The Dorothy Harvey Gallery hosts private and public art exhibitions on the second floor of Cambridge City Hall. The Gallery is open to the public from Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Cedar Lake Studios | 27 Ainslie Street North

Cedar Lake is an online and brick-and-mortar art gallery located in the heart of Downtown Galt. The studio was opened in 2015 by Susan Benton, a Canadian entrepreneur with a background in various business and marketing facets as well as directorship at key theatres and galleries in Canada. The Studio features a selection of curated art pieces and works by Canadian artists and creators including originals and historical prints available for sale.

Visit the Cedar Lake Studios website for more information.

Koehler Art | 271 West River Road

Koehler Art is the home studio and gallery of German-born artist, Hanne Lore Koehler. The gallery showcases Koehler’s eclectic collection of watercolour and oil paints which Hanne describes as unbound to any particular category or art style. Subjects range from photorealistic sports scenes and portraits to calming landscapes and still life pieces, and everything in between.

See Hanne’s contact information on the studio website to schedule a visit.

Design at Riverside | 7 Melville Street South

Design at Riverside is located in the historic Riverside Silk Mill on the University of Waterloo School of Architecture Campus. The gallery is dedicated to showcasing the work of architecture students within graduate and undergraduate programs at the University.

Visit the University of Waterloo website to view upcoming Project Review exhibitions.

Cambridge Art Galleries | 1 North Square & 435 King Street

With two locations in the city, the Cambridge Art Galleries celebrate the range of artists within our community. Exhibits, programs, and collections highlight the experimentative nature of contemporary art as it engages and empowers communities regardless of age, ethnicity, social status, cultural background, age, or ability.

Discover upcoming events and programs at the Cambridge Art Galleries here.

Public Art Spaces

We believe art should be accessible to everyone in Cambridge. We’re committed to displaying public art throughout the city to transform our cityscape, engage our communities, and highlight the values upheld within our community. Public art installations include:

  • The Digital Light Projections Shows: Running nightly from Thursdays to Sundays at the Old Post Office, the shows feature seasonally-inspired content for all ages.
  • Cambridge Sculpture Garden: Located along the river walk on Grand Avenue, the Cambridge Sculpture Garden features a collection of temporary and permanent pieces.
  • indigena domain: Conceptualized and realized by Stephen Cruise, indigena domain is a granite sculpture located just outside Cambridge City Hall to honour the communities of Galt, Preston, Hespeler, and Blair which amalgamated to form Cambridge.

Visit our Public Art and Sculpture Garden page here for more information.

Cambridge’s art scene showcases our community’s creative side. Our galleries give community members a platform to amplify their voices, tell their stories, and share their unique perspectives and interpretations through varying artforms. We’re looking forward to seeing new pieces come to life throughout Cambridge’s 50th anniversary year.

Subscribe to the Cambridge newsletter for local art events and news delivered right to your inbox.

We’re always on the look out for local Cambridge talent. Use the #CulturedCambridge hashtag on Instagram and Twitter to share your work and tell your stories.

Get Moving in Cambridge

Where to get active in the City of Cambridge

Recreational Facilities

Public Pools

Cambridge is proud to call itself home to four public pools. With two outdoor and two indoor pools across the city – ready for you to dip into – Cambridge has a pool to suit your needs.

Each of the four facilities has something to offer everyone. Whether you’re looking to swim laps or take it easy with leisure swimming, find swim schedules and available activities here.

In 2022, we set off to redevelop Ed Newland Pool in Preston. The project aims to enhance accessibility for patrons. We look forward to seeing Ed Newland Pool reopen this summer – just in time for our City’s 50th Anniversary!

Here’s where you can find all of Cambridge’s four public pools – and the nearest one to you:

  1. Ed Newland Pool: 515 William Street
  2. George Hancock Pool: 115 Glenmorris Street
  3. John Dolson Pool: 212 South Street,
  4. W.G. Johnson Pool: 31 Kribs Street

Public Arenas

Sharpen those skates! In the City of Cambridge, we have a total of six public arenas along with a handful of volunteer-run outdoor rinks open in the winter months.

Our indoor ice rinks offer a range of activities from family public skating to shinny hockey programs. Visit the City of Cambridge’s Public Skating page for rates, schedules, programs, and rental information.

Here’s where you can find all of Cambridge’s public arenas – and the nearest one to you:

  1. Dickson Centre: 30 Christopher Drive
  2. Duncan McIntosh Arena: 200 Christopher Drive
  3. Galt Arena Gardens: 98 Shade Street
  4. Hespeler Memorial Arena: 640 Ellis Road
  5. Karl Homuth Arena: 1407 Hamilton Street
  6. Preston Memorial Arena: 1458 Hamilton Street

For additional rink information, please visit the Arenas and Outdoor Rinks page on the City of Cambridge website.

Outdoor Courts, Diamonds, Fields, and Playgrounds

In addition to our many pools and arenas, Cambridge is packed with 11 basketball courts, 64 softball and hardball diamonds, 40 soccer and football fields, and 62 public playgrounds.

Visit the City of Cambridge Parks and Facilities webpage.

Children and Youth Classes and Programs

Are you looking to get the kids out and active? Well, you’re certainly in luck here in Cambridge. As a Playworks Youth Friendly Community Recognition Award winner, we’re proud to offer our children and youth a wide range of activities to get them active, creative, and engaged in volunteering opportunities. Here’s a look at some of Cambridge's activities to get your young ones moving.

Registered Activities

From swimming classes and you-&-me yoga to day camps and beginner ballet, there’s an activity in Cambridge for children of all ages.

Use the Registered Activity Search tool to explore upcoming programs.

Skateboarding and Bike Parks

Cambridge is home to three designated skateboarding parks and one bike park with asphalt and dirt tracks to test your riding skills (helmet and safety equipment are recommended, of course).

The Riverside Rails Skateboarding Park also features its own legal graffiti wall – just in case kids feel an extra burst of creative energy.

Here’s where you can find each of Cambridge’s bike and skateboard parks:

  1. Riverside Bike Park: 1850 Rogers Drive
  2. Riverside Rails: 1850 Rogers Drive
  3. Greengate Park Skateboard Dot: 180 Maple Bush Drive
  4. Churchill Park Skateboard Spot: 200 Christopher Drive

Cambridge Skateboarding and Bike Park Committees

We’ve recently put together the Cambridge Bike Park and Skateboard Park Committees. These groups are focused on developing each of the City’s bike and skateboard parks with programming, workshops, competitions, and other events to bring community members together over a shared passion for riding.

Send an email to youth@cambridge.ca to learn more about the committees and how you can get involved.

OK2BME Youth Group

The OK2BME program is operated by KW Counselling Services and offers support and programming for 2SLGBTQIA+ children, youth, adults, and families in the Waterloo Region.

The OK2BME Cambridge Youth Group is a space for connecting, learning, and joining in on recreational activities for anyone between the ages of 12 and 18.

Find additional information and upcoming events on the OK2BME Cambridge Youth Group webpage.

Adult and 50+ Classes and Programs

Pay as you Go Fitness at W.G. Johnson Centre

Cambridge residents can drop in and try out our all-new Pay as you Go fitness classes at the W.G Johnson Centre, located at 31 Kribs Street.

The Centre offers a range of whole body, step, high-intensity interval training (H.I.I.T.), and cardio sculpt workout classes led by certified instructors.

Visit the Cambridge Adult Program webpage for class schedules and additional information on the W.G. Johnson Centre’s Pay as you Go fitness classes.

50+ Recreation Centres

Cambridge has four 50+ Recreation Centres where older adults can connect, get moving and dive into new, exciting skills and hobbies.

We’re pleased to offer an annual membership to the 50+ Recreation Centres for residents looking to drop in for programs, receive a discount on registered programs, and have exclusive access to clubs.

Visit the Membership webpage to join your nearest Cambridge 50+ Recreation Centre.

Here is where you can find each of Cambridge’s four 50+ Recreation Centres:

  1. The Allan Reuter Centre: 507 King Street East
  2. The David Durward Centre: 62 Dickson Street
  3. The Ted Wake Centre: 31 Kribs Street
  4. The William E. Pautler Centre: 1145 Concession Road

Check out the 50+ Recreation Centre webpage for centre hours and available programs and services.

Online Recreation and Culture Hub

To provide accessible programming and activities to more residents across Cambridge, we launched the Online Recreation and Culture Hub.

Led by Cambridge’s Recreation and Culture staff and instructors, the Online Hub offers free virtual videos and activities to keep you connected and get you moving.

From Karate printouts and camping preparation videos to total body fusion and resistance training workouts, the Online Recreation and Culture hub is packed with activities for all ages and skill levels.

Visit the Online Recreation and Culture Hub webpage to get started.

What are your favourite ways to get moving in Cambridge? Send us a Tweet or tag us on Instagram using the #CulturedInCambridge hashtag to show off your personal workout routine!