Art Museums/Galleries in Banff

For being a small town, Banff has a disproportionate amount of art galleries and museums. Many of these galleries specialize in Canadian art, particularly Western Canadian and First Nations art. The stories of the people of the Rocky Mountains is captured in the photography, painting, and sculpture found in these Banff galleries. Many are dedicated to encouraging the creation and education of art. Others are strictly commercial. The museums in Banff each tell a different part of the story of Banff National Park. And, the Banff Centre remains the regional leader in the creation and display of artistic work in Banff.

The Whyte Museum houses a large collection of artistic works, photographs, artifacts, and archives from the Banff area. It is well known for its contribution to the process of artistic education in the schools around the Bow Valley area. The Banff Park Museum catalogs the wildlife and plant life in the National Park. Life-sized displays of many of the local animals are the order of the day. The Luxton Museum is across the river from downtown in an old fort. This museum displays and remembers the First Nations that inhabit the Bow Valley.

Commercial galleries, such as Mountain Galleries and Canada House, are some of the largest art galleries in Canada. Mountain Galleries focuses on established artists, and even has a private studio and housing program for many of its contributors. Willock & Sax moved to Banff recently from Waterton Lakes National Park, and they make a regular contribution to the world of art by hosting workshops and showcases of the artists the sell.

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