The City of Cambridge offers exciting arts and cultural opportunities for everyone! Thanks to our arts and culture funding, we're able to provide residents, visitors and artists with excellent programs, services and activities. Explore our cultural spaces, including:

View our Events Calendar to learn about upcoming arts and culture events in the community.

Culture Days

Each year, millions of Canadians celebrate their love of culture across Canada during Culture Days!  This year's Culture Days will take place from September to October 15, 2023. 

No experience needed to participate in this province-wide, free festival, just enthusiasm to participate in something new. 

If your organization or group is interested in being part of the Culture Days promotional experience this year, join in on the fun! Email the Culture Days coordinator details of your free activity, or reach out for more info: artcentre@cambridge.ca

Plan your time with Cambridge Culture Days’ events listed below:

Studio Tour Exhibition

Participating Cambridge Studio Tour Artists open their doors for a behind the scenes view at their studio practices and insight into the creative and business sides of being an artist. Tour goers can expect to see a variety of art, everything from paintings to jewelry to woodworking. Artwork may also be available for purchase.

Sept 23, 10 am – 5 p.m.; Sept 24, noon – 5 p.m.
Great Canadian Artists Mural and Gathering Place

Time: all hours

Cambridge Centre for the Arts, 60 Dickson St, Cambridge ON N1R 8N1

Outdoor view of Great Canadian Artists Mural - To celebrate Canada’s 150 the Cambridge Centre for the Arts commissioned Cambridge artist Michele Jones to paint a vertical window mural with 12 portraits of great Canadian artists and performers. As visitors approach the entrance to the arts centre, they are able to experience a vibrant depiction of Canadians who through their talents have made a significant impact nationally and internationally.

Free admission

Hespeler Heritage Centre

Hespeler Heritage Centre - Archival collection consists of over 5,000 pieces of old photos, documents, memorabilia, and artifacts ranging in age from the early 19th century up to recent days.

Tuesday – Friday:  9:00 a.m. – Noon     

Digital Light Projection Show 

In 2018, the City of Cambridge installed a digital projection system to display light shows on the facade of the Old Post Office building located at 12 Water Street South.  These shows run Thurs. to Sun. throughout the year.  Content is appropriate for all ages.

For a list of show times, go to https://www.cambridge.ca/en/parks-recreation-culture/Public-Art-and-Sculpture-Gardens.aspx.

Please note:  Some shows may have strobe light type effects that may be disorienting to some residents.

For more information, visit Digital Light Projection Show.

Murals in Galt 

Assorted locations downtown Galt, and behind 800 Franklin Ave, Cambridge. Most are walking distance from each other.

  • ‘The Indigenous Reconciliation Youth Art Project’, D3 building, 34 Ainslie St. S; Cambridge ON N1R 3K1
  • ‘Galt Wings’, Art of Home 11 Ainslie St S, Cambridge, ON N1R 3J9 Post it on social media using the hashtag #GaltWings to share your photo with others!
  • Vintage sign advertising Pandora Range from McClary’s Stove, Main Street and Ainslie Street.
  • Whale image by Bart Smeets 27 Water St N, Cambridge, ON N1R 3B2: in the parking lot, behind building at Water Street and Dickson Street.
  • G5 Dickson St. public parking lot: between Water and Ainslie Streets
  • Bear image by Sonny, Behind Cornerstone (accessible via the parking tunnel at Matlow Miller Cummins Thrasher Law 43 Dickson St, Cambridge ON N1R 5W1 - go through their driveway under an arch, into their parking lot.
  • End of Petty Place and around the bend.
  • ‘The Founders’, by Michele Jones, ay Petty Place and Dickson Road, features William Dickson & Absalom Shade, who cleared wilderness to prepare for settlers in Galt and Dumfries Township.
  • Woodworker's mural by Michele Jones, to the left of the entrance to the Cambridge Centre for the Arts, 60 Dickson St Cambridge, ON N1R 8N1
  • Dan Roberts Mural: turned one of the centre’s garage doors into an abstract masterwork in 2006. His exhibit never stays open. But it never stays closed either. Behind the Cambridge Centre for the Arts; access mural on Wellington Street.
  • ‘Tectonic Surface’, by Stephanie Boutari, Bread Factory building parking lot, 7 Grand Ave S., Cambridge ON N1S 2L3. Her other mural located on the rear wall at 800 Franklin Ave, Cambridge, ON N1R 7Z1 (Franklin Blvd and Avenue Road) 

Murals Preston

Assorted locations in Preston Town Centre and Riverside Park, Preston; Most are walking distance from each other.

  • ‘Mural of Memories’, by Dave Sofa, on the side of the RBC building, 637 King St E, Cambridge, ON N3H 3N7
  • 'Sun’ by Ean Kools, between RBC building and 639 King St E. Cambridge, ON N3H 3N6
  • Woodworkers mural by Michele Jones, on the side of Allan Reuter Centre, 507 King St E, Cambridge, ON N3H 3N4; access mural from King Street parking lot
  • Riverside 'Graffiti wall' at the Riverside Rails Skateboard Park in Riverside Park, 49 King St W, Cambridge, ON N3H 1B5 

Murals Hespeler 
  • Hespeler 'Graffiti Alley’, is an evolving, living mural display, at 11 Queen St E, Cambridge, ON N3C 2A7. Guelph Ave is a seasonal mural production. Other murals can be spotted in the alleys and behind/beside buildings, and in parking lots. As well as 27 Cooper Street (not far from Cooper and Queen). All locations are close and walkable. 

Fire Hall Museum & Education Centre

Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Cambridge City Hall, Civic Square, 56 Dickson St., Cambridge, ON N1R 1T8

Explore the Cambridge Fire Hall Museum and Education Centre today and learn about the history of fire service in the City of Cambridge and its surrounding areas.

Free admission

Sculptures and Art Installations 
  • ‘Pin Art’ Cambridge Centre station, Hespeler Road, in front of Cambridge Centre Mall
  • ‘Child Found’ Police Headquarters, 200 Maple Grove Rd., Cambridge ON N3H 5M.  Sculpture is a manifestation of the Waterloo Regional Police Service motto: People Helping People
  • ‘Solar Collector’, Region of Waterloo Operations Centre, 100 Maple Grove Rd., Cambridge ON N3H 4R7. Celebrating the Region's commitment to energy efficiency, the solar-powered and interactive installation gathers energy from the sun during the day to light up at night. The public can view and even choreograph nightly light performances online at www.solarcollector.ca
  • ‘Over the Meadow’, Kinsmen Children’s Centre, 651 Concession Rd., Cambridge, ON N3H 4L1 Description: This sculptural ceramic relief, 2.5 metres long and made of 116 tiles, is filled with sculpted creatures adapted from the poem by Olive A. Wadsworth
  • Indigena domain - In 2008, artist and winner of a national competition, Stephen Cruise, created the Indigena domain public art in front of Cambridge City Hall, 50 Dickson Street Cambridge ON N1R 8S1. Work is a polished granite sculpture, honoring the founding communities of Galt, Preston, Hespeler and Blair.
  • ‘Craig's Crossing' Galt Pedestrian Bridge, Between Founder's Point on the east and the Cambridge Sculpture Garden on the west; Built-in 1912 the Bridge spanned the Grand River for more than 60 years. By 1984, all that remained were the concrete piers. In 2018, a new bridge built in its place opened. Bridge is lite up at night. 

For more information, visit Sculptures and Art Installations.

Cambridge Arts and Culture Action Plan

The Arts and Culture Master Plan outlines the Recreation and Culture division’s vision, mission, strategic priorities and recommendations for developing and enhancing culture services, facilities, programming and events in the City of Cambridge.  The plan will guide arts and culture programs and initiatives in the City of Cambridge for the next ten years.

Please enjoy reading the Arts and Culture Master Plan Executive Summary 2024 and the Arts and Culture Action Plan 2024.

 

Advisory groups

Cambridge has an Arts and Culture Advisory Committee to help Council make decisions related to arts and cultural activities and programs in the community.

There's also a Cultural Awards Committee which organizes the distributions of Cambridge's cultural awards and bursaries.

Learn more about our committees and boards.