Visit the Gallery Safely

In accordance with the most recent measures announced by the Government of Ontario, the Gallery will be temporarily closed to the public as of April 3.

 

Escape to the great indoors at the National Gallery of Canada. We’re open and welcoming you to a safe, inspiring experience.

To ensure the safety of visitors and staff alike, we’ve developed some new guidelines, while still offering full access to the great works of art you’ve come to expect. To learn more about our mask requirements, please visit the City of Ottawa’s website. We also encourage you to download the COVID Alert app before your visit to the Gallery. 

The thought-provoking William Kentridge installation is open until May 2021, and most of our main galleries are accessible at all times during Gallery opening hours.   

Much of our on-site programming has been suspended for now. Please check this page from time to time to see what’s new, and what’s changed, as we all continue to navigate this challenging time. 

 

Welcome Back to your NGC

Welcome Back to #YourNGC

Visit

Keeping
Everyone Safe
 

Keep your hands clean. Maintain a distance of 2 metres between yourself and others. Wear a mask.

What is the Gallery’s policy on masks?
The Gallery requires each visitor to wear a mask securely covering the nose, mouth and chin at all time. This requirement will be waived only for those with medical or age-related conditions that prevent the wearing of masks. For full details on the rules the Gallery follows, please check out the City of Ottawa's website. 

Will the Gallery be providing hand sanitizer?
Hand sanitizer stations have been installed throughout the Gallery, including at our new temporary entrance.

Can I use the washrooms at the Gallery?
Yes. The frequency and extent of cleaning throughout the Gallery has been increased. 

What else is the Gallery doing to keep me safe?
In addition to ramping up our cleaning of high-touch surfaces, areas such as the Coat Check, the Boutique and the Box Office have been equipped with plexiglass shields. We have also temporarily closed food-service areas, and are actively encouraging social distancing. In addition, digital labels in our galleries now feature a QR code, allowing you to access their content via your mobile device.  

How can I help keep others safe?
The Gallery asks visitors to follow standard hygiene practices. Please cough or sneeze into your elbow. Keep your hands clean. Avoid touching your face. 

Please do not visit the Gallery if you have:

  • Any of the following new or worsening symptoms: fever or chills, flu-like symptoms, cough or difficulty breathing, recent decrease or loss of smell or taste;
  • Travelled outside of Canada or have had close contact with anyone that has travelled outside of Canada in the past 14 days;
  • Had close contact with anyone with respiratory illness or a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days.

These measures are in place for your safety and that of our employees.

Physical Distancing
Measures
 

How is the Gallery handling physical distancing?
We encourage everyone to maintain a friendly distance of 2 metres (6 feet) between themselves and others at all times, and to yield to one another whenever possible. Signage and floor markers have been added outside the Gallery, and throughout the main public areas, to remind everyone of the continued importance of physical distancing.

In addition, the Gallery will allow a limited number of people to enter the Gallery every 30 minutes. 

Do I still enter the Gallery the same way?
To maintain physical distancing, visitors will now enter and exit through different doors. Visitors will enter via the Group Entrance, and will exit via the Main Entrance on the Gallery Plaza. New signage has been installed to help visitors navigate this temporary measure.

Can I still shop at the Boutique?
The Boutique is open! Please note that access will be limited to 15 customers at a time. To visit the Boutique without accessing the galleries, please line up with the general public for admission via the Group Entrance. Contactless payment with debit or credit cards is preferred. To reach a customer service representative in the Boutique, please call 613-990-1970. See the new opening hours.

Many of our most popular Boutique items are also available online at ShopNGC.ca. For assistance with online orders, please call 1-855-202-4568 or 613-990-0962.

Food Services and
Water Fountains
 

Can I eat and drink while at the Gallery?

Our food services are currently closed, and all water fountains have been temporarily turned off.

New Hours
of Operation  
 

When does the Gallery reopen to visitors?
The Gallery reopened to the public on Thursday, February 18.

What are the Gallery’s new hours?
The Gallery will be open from Thursday through Sunday each week, from 10 am to 5 pm. On Thursdays, we will be open, as before, until 8 pm, with free admission between 5 and 8 pm. Please see our Hours page for details.

Admission
 

Have admission fees changed?
There has been no change in admission fees. Please see our Admission page for details.

Can I purchase admission tickets in advance?
Tickets are available at the door only, on a first come, first served basis. To help ensure physical distancing, we will be admitting a limited number of visitors at 30-minute intervals.

Exhibitions and
Galleries
 

Are all of the galleries open?
For a list of what’s available and for how long, please refer to the list below. Visit our Exhibition and Galleries page for all the details.

 

William Kentridge: More Sweetly Play the Dance: Until May 2021

 

 

National Collection:

Canadian and Indigenous Galleries

European and American Galleries

Contemporary Galleries

Programs
 

What kinds of programming is the Gallery offering?
Because of the need for physical distancing, many programs have had to be suspended. See the list below for programming information. Because this list will change frequently, please check back often to see what’s new.

Family Art Adventure at the National Gallery of Canada:
Drop by Garden Court to pick up a self-guided activity kit, full of fun ideas to help you explore the Gallery with your family. Learn more

Group Tours: Suspended until further notice
Day Camps: Cancelled for this year