Vision & Values

Land Acknowledgement

The Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery respectfully acknowledges that we are located in Block 2 on the Haldimand Tract: land promised to Six Nations, which includes ten kilometers on each side of the Grand River.* This is the traditional home of the Attawandaron (Neutral), Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee Peoples, whose resilience we honor by offering this Gallery as a space to reflect and learn from one another.

We are committed to reconciliation and ensuring that our Gallery's programs and Permanent Collection demonstrate more diverse, culturally relevant Canadian art and artists.

Mandate

For the benefit of current and future generations, the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery collects, preserves, researches, interprets, and exhibits the visual arts. It offers dynamic public programs that inspire creativity and an appreciation of the visual arts in the Region and beyond. Established in 1956 and incorporated in 1968, the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery is a non-profit organization open to the public and administered in the public trust.

Mission

The Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery connects people and ideas through art. Its nationally-acclaimed exhibitions and programs welcome all to be inspired and challenged through a deepened understanding of ourselves, our cultures, and our communities.

Vision

KWAG will enrich lives across our community and nation through the creation and experience of contemporary art. It will flourish as a recognized leader and exceptional cultural presence at the intersection of contemporary art and civic life by:

Amplifying the voices of diverse artists
Expanding access to art’s transformative impact
Securing and strengthening its distinctive legacy for future generations

In support of our mission to connect people and ideas through art, KWAG provides the public with a wide range of experiences in the visual arts through high quality exhibitions of regional, national and international art, education and public programs, outreach activities, specialized workshops, publications, collection accessibility, research and art expertise. Our key objectives for exhibitions focus on generating dialogue with contemporary art and its issues, regional, national and international art practices, different art forms and disciplines, collection and non-collection projects.

Economically and culturally, KWAG contributes to the community by cultivating the area's distinguished social and cultural foundation-a foundation that underpins the continued and growing prosperity of the region.

We are guided by the following values:

Creativity
We inspire originality, curiosity and discovery through the experience of art.

Public Engagement
We are a public art gallery, actively drawing our community together into a shared experience of art that moves us from sight to insight.

Artistic Leadership
We are recognized for our expertise, professionalism, and integrity. We are the standard-bearer for the visual arts in our region, seeking excellence and having the courage to lead.

Collaboration
We actively develop meaningful relationships with our partners, building synergy and mutually enhancing diversity and strength.

2025-2027 Strategic Plan

KWAG’s Strategic Plan 2025-2027 continues the trajectory of the previous one, expanding the Gallery’s goal to be a centre for the intersection of contemporary art and civic life. It builds on our past and what we have learned and unlearned. As an art museum, we stand proudly on the shoulders of our founders, pioneering artists, and visionary benefactors. Our identity as an institution has been shaped by them, and it continues to be enhanced by the people who so generously support our efforts today.

The plan's goals articulate the Gallery’s vision of leadership in contemporary art, together with a commitment to local community development and engagement. The goal is to build the financial, human, and physical resources needed to accomplish this with integrity, enthusiasm, and excellence.

This plan continues to be a living document as the Gallery continues to develop and advance its standards of excellence in exhibitions, collecting, and learning. It outlines initiatives to deepen our impact on individual lives, improve the health and well-being of our community, and ensure equity and vitality through the diversity of our programming, staff, and Board.