A Family Guide to the MacKenzie Art Gallery 

Nestled in Wascana Park in Regina, Saskatchewan, the MacKenzie Art Gallery is a place where art, culture, and community thrive. The Gallery is full of welcoming, family-friendly spaces. 

Our exhibitions and programs inspire curiosity, build confidence, and spark joy for children and families. You’ll find lots of fun opportunities for artmaking, creative discovery, and learning. 

WATCH Growing up with Art:

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Here’s a guide to help you plan your family’s next visit:

WEEKLY-WE-MAKE DROP-IN WORKSHOPS  

Presented by Canada Life 

Every Sunday, from 1 to 3 PM, the MacKenzie offers no-cost, family-friendly drop-in art workshops in the Gallery’s Learning Centre. 

Each week features a new workshop suitable for all ages, inspired by our permanent collection or current exhibitions. Workshops are led by Gallery Educators and guest artists. 

Tip: More workshops for children and youth can be found on our website. 

A person holds a colorful handmade puppet with blue ears, a blue face, button eyes, and a pink scarf. In the background, children and adults work on arts and crafts at tables covered with newspapers.

 

EXHIBITIONS 

Exhibitions feature artwork from our region and beyond. At any given time, visitors will experience artwork from the MacKenzie’s permanent collection, works borrowed from other art galleries, as well as artworks fresh from an artist’s studio. 

Amazing artworks throughout the Gallery encourage exploration, curiosity, and imagination. To learn more about experiencing art, watch The MacKenzie Method—a simple, welcoming way to engage with art that’s accessible to people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. 

Keep an eye out for the Wake Windows, an exhibition designed for children and parents, opening in Fall 2026. 

Tip: Some sculptures and textiles are labelled with a hand symbol that indicates whether it’s touchable.  

A group of young children in colorful outfits stand and sit facing a wall with a large geometric artwork, while an adult gestures towards the art in a gallery setting. One child sits on the floor looking toward the camera.

Caption: Children attending the Preschool Fine Arts Co-opertive engage with the exhibition Indian Theater: Native Performance, Art, and Self-Determination since 1969, 2025. Photo: Shawn Fulton, AdSpark Communications 

 

ACTIVITY GUIDE 

Our family activity guide is available at the Welcome Centre to help children communicate their own ideas about the art on view. The guide includes questions for stimulating curiosity, areas for creating art and poetry, and a bingo game. 

Tip: Creating titles for artworks is a fun way for children to engage with art! 

A woman crouches and gestures while speaking to six young children seated on the floor in front of a colorful geometric artwork in an art gallery.

 Caption: Children attending the Preschool Fine Arts Co-operative engage with the exhibition Indian Theater: Native Performance, Art, and Self-Determination since 1969, 2025. Photo: Shawn Fulton, AdSpark Communications 

 

LEARNING CENTRE 

Express your creativity in the Learning Centre—a quiet space for people of all ages to experience and make art together. With windows overlooking Wascana Park, the light-filled space is activated by the artworks of our current Artist in Residence. Tables and art supplies are ready and waiting. 

Two young children sit at a table drawing with colored pencils on a large sheet of paper covered in doodles. The boy wears a suit and bow tie, while the girl wears a blue dress. Art supplies are scattered on the table.

 

PATHWAY OF LIGHT 

In the afternoons, rays of sunlight cast a magical kaleidoscope of colours through Plains Cree syllabics on the windows, onto the lobby floor. A pathway of light appears, creating a special experience for visitors entering the Gallery. 

In this artwork, Joi T. Arcand has created a clear relationship between the Cree language and the land it comes from. Not only do these words speak about the land, but you can look through them to the vibrant prairie sky beyond. As the colours dance across you and the Gallery, you’re reminded that you’re standing on Indigenous land. 

A hallway with large glass windows features colorful geometric shapes, such as triangles and circles, creating vibrant reflections on the floor. The floor has bold red zigzag patterns and the space is filled with natural light.

Caption: Joi T. Arcand, ᐁᐸᐢᐹᐱᐟ ᐚᓰᓇᒫᓂᕁ ᐚᐸᐦᑕᑦ ᐁᓈᓈᐦᑌᔨᐠ (Looking out her window she watches a moving mirage of dazzling light), dichroic film, 2021. Photo: Don Hall. 

 

THE MEADOW 

Located directly behind the Gallery is an open meadow surrounded by trees—perfect for outdoor adventures like picnics, winter walks, or a walk to Wascana Lake. 

 

OUTDOOR SCULPTURE GARDEN 

Explore part of the MacKenzie’s permanent collection outside. Outdoor artworks, like Joe Fafard’s cow and calf sculptures, are on display year-round throughout the Gallery grounds. Information about the artworks and a walking tour map are available here. 

Two life-sized bronze statues of a cow and a calf stand on green grass. The calf is in the foreground, appearing to walk, while the cow is in the background facing away.

Caption: Joe Fafard, “Teevo”, 1993, bronze. Photo: Don Hall 

 

CRAFT SERVICES CAFÉ BY CAFÉ FRANÇAIS 

Enjoy fresh pastries, warm meals, and gourmet coffee surrounded by art and community. 

A young girl in a blue dress looks through a glass display at three plates of brownies and cookies in a bright, modern bakery or cafe.

 

MACKENZIE SHOP 

MacKenzie Shop is full of unique things for children of all ages. You’ll find art supplies, craft kits, books, stuffies, decals, puzzles, puppets, toys, colouring books, and games. The travel spiral doodler and bannock plushie are both big hits with families, as well as unique markers for colouring atypical things like rocks and windows. 

A plush toy shaped like a round, bitten cookie with a smiling face sits on a wooden shelf, holding a pixelated orange and red heart. Other colorful items are visible in the blurred background.

 

ADMISSION 

There is no cost for admission for children and youth aged 17 and under. Admission for adults is $12.00 per person. Tickets can be purchased in-person at the Gallery, or online. 

Individual membership starts at $30.00 and includes unlimited admission, two one-time guest passes, invitations to member-only events and gift shop sales, the member newsletter, and more. 

Tip: There is no cost for adult admission on select Rawlco Free Admission Days. Upcoming dates can be found on the website. 

A woman in a black and white dress smiles and gives a high five to a young girl with long hair inside a brightly lit information or reception area.

 

GALLERY SERVICES 

The Gallery provides many services for families, including: 

  • Strollers, wheelchairs, and walkers 
  • Coat room and lockers 
  • Change stations 
  • Café operated by Café Français 
  • Portable chairs in the Gallery 
  • Ear plugs and sensory bins 
  • Elevators 
  • Accessible washrooms. 

 

GALLERY ETIQUETTE 

Here are a few tips to talk about before your visit: 

  • Don’t touch art (unless it’s labelled touchable), stands, or walls 
  • Walk instead of run (or wheel carefully) 
  • Stay together 
  • Wear shoes 
  • Keep food and drinks on the main floor 
  • Set mobile phones to silent 
  • Photography is permitted without a flash, unless you see a no photography sign next to an artwork 
  • Store bulky bags in the coat room lockers or at the security desk 
  • Lively discussions are encouraged, but please, no yelling. 

 

If you have questions or need some assistance while exploring the Gallery, our friendly Welcome Centre staff and security guards are available to help. 

For more information about hours of operation, location, admission, and accessibility, visit mackenzie.art/visit/plan-your-visit. 

A young girl in a blue dress joyfully dances indoors with orange pom-poms, smiling. The background features colorful, playful wall art and bright bunting decorations.

 

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