MacLaren Art Centre, Art gallery in downtown Barrie, Canada
The MacLaren Art Centre is an arts centre in downtown Barrie featuring multiple exhibition spaces, an education center, a sculpture courtyard, and a gallery shop. These different areas are organized to give visitors a range of places to explore contemporary and regional artwork.
The building combines a restored 1917 Carnegie library with a contemporary addition completed in 2001. This blend of old and new structures emerged from efforts to preserve the historical site while enabling modern art exhibitions.
The centre displays contemporary Canadian art and presents year-round exhibitions with regional and national artists. Visitors can observe how local and broader artistic voices are given space to show their work.
The centre is easily accessible on foot in downtown Barrie and offers comfortable gallery spaces to explore. Visitors should allow enough time to view all exhibition areas and the sculpture courtyard at a relaxed pace.
The building's design received the National Post Design Exchange Award of Merit in 2003 for successfully merging historical and modern elements. This recognition celebrated how the architecture bridges the old site with contemporary needs.
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