The City of Kingston is privileged to own an impressive and extensive collection of locally, provincially and nationally significant Canadian Art; many of the works were bestowed upon the City by the former Art Collection Society of Kingston in 1988. Since then much of the collection has been stored and cared for at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre.
In celebration of the breadth Canadian talent found in this collection a selection of significant and prolific works have been brought ‘out of the vault’ in an attempt to Continue to support the Society’s initiative of contributing to the cultural vitality of Kingston and fostering an appreciation of Canadian talent.
About the Art Collection Society of Kingston
The Art Collection Society of Kingston, founded in 1957 by an impressive group of likeminded citizens with a goal of bringing significant contemporary Canadian art to Kingston’s public sphere. Works were purchased by funds assembled through membership fees, donations and the impressive fundraising efforts of the Women’s Committee. The Society was able to curate a collection of art by some prolific Canadian artists like A.Y. Jackson, Alfred Pellan, William Kurelek, Kenojuak Ashevak, Arthur Lismer and Jean-Paul Lemieux. The Women’s Committee was responsible for some of the major acquisitions like a series of A.Y. Jackson sketches and Arthus Lismer’s Bay Fin, MacGregor Bay 1935.
Over the years works were stored and displayed in several public buildings throughout the City. In 1988 ownership of the collection was transferred to the City of Kingston and the collection has been properly stored and cared for with the assistance of the Agnes Etherington Art Centre. Many of artworks have come ‘out of the vault’ to appear in exhibitions at locally and nationally significant institutions.
