Photo: Palm Tree Studios
Gallery Venues
Scotiabank Great Hall
The Gallery’s iconic colonnade leads to the spacious Scotiabank Great Hall, where your guests will be surrounded by stunning architecture, floor-to-ceiling windows, and an atrium-style glass ceiling.
Foyer
Natural light filters through a pool of water from the floor above, and is reflected onto the Foyer’s glass floor, offering a unique ambiance for a more intimate function.
Cafeteria
The Cafeteria features a glass rotunda and a private terrace offering views onto Kìwekì Point (formerly Nepean Point) and Parliament Hill.
Auditorium
All eyes are on the stage in the Auditorium. The Auditorium is an ideal space for conferences, educational talks, film screenings, and performances.
Lecture Hall
The Gallery’s 91-seat Lecture Hall is a cozy space that is perfect for intimate presentations, with an ambiance sure to keep your guests engaged and focused.
Rental Fees
Functions must be for a period of 10 hours or less, including set-up and tear-down. Partial set-up and deliveries may begin the night before, or the morning of the event, outside of Gallery opening hours, subject to Gallery approval.
Rental fees include cleaning, room set-up and take-down of Gallery furniture.
All fees are subject to change without notice. Additional charges will apply based on your event requirements. For more information, please contact [email protected].
| Venue | Availability | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Scotiabank Great Hall | One hour after public hours | $5,975 |
| Cafeteria | One hour after public hours | $4,575 |
| Foyer | One hour after public hours | $2,975 |
| Auditorium* | During and after public hours | $2,975 |
| Lecture Hall* | During public hours | $1,775 |
| Permanent Collection - Private Viewing* | One hour after the Gallery closes to the public. Viewings are available for a period of two hours or less. | Pricing available upon request. |
| Special Exhibition - Private Viewing* | One hour after the Gallery closes to the public. Viewings are available for a period of two hours or less. | Pricing available upon request. |
*No food or beverages permitted.
Preferred Caterers
The National Gallery of Canada is proud to offer a preferred list of suppliers who specialize in event catering. Our preferred caterers provide professional service and creative, innovative menus of the highest quality.
Whether you are planning a wedding, private reception, conference, product launch, customer event or staff celebration, our preferred caterers will make planning food and drink for your event a rewarding and stress-free experience.
FAQ
Yes! If you would like a venue tour with one of our coordinators, please fill out an Inquiry Form and request an appointment in the Special Notes and Questions section. We are available by appointment Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
If you would like to visit our rental spaces on your own, all of our public spaces are accessible during the Gallery’s regular public hours.
The cost depends on the space in which you are interested, along with any additional event requirements. We recommend submitting an Inquiry Form to request a site visit — one of our coordinators would be happy to discuss rental options with you, and to develop a custom cost estimate for your event.
If your desired date is available, we can hold it up to fourteen days. Dates put on hold are not guaranteed until a contract has been signed, and we have received your deposit.
The National Gallery of Canada has a list of highly skilled and approved caterers reflecting our mission, vision and values. These caterers have exclusive rights to provide onsite food and beverage services.
We do not offer any event-specific packages, in order to allow you as much customization and flexibility as possible. If you are interested in a cost estimate, please complete our Inquiry Form.
Partial set-up and deliveries may begin the night before, or on the morning of the event, depending on event complexity and programming. Requests for early access must be approved by the event coordinator no later than one month before the event.
Due to limited storage space, we cannot hold any items after an event. All items brought in must be removed immediately following the event.
The Gallery has ample underground parking. Please visit our Location and Parking page for more detailed information.
Yes. We have a highly skilled and knowledgeable in-house AV team with whom you can choose to work on your event.
The Auditorium and Lecture Hall are equipped with a podium, podium microphone, projector, screen, translation booth, standard lighting and sound system. We also offer a variety of sound and lighting options for rent in our other spaces.
Note: Additional charges may apply. All rented equipment must be operated by Gallery-approved personnel or suppliers.
Yes. Given that the Gallery is home to many valuable works of art, we cannot permit any items onsite that may endanger the art. This includes flames or pyrotechnics of any kind, sand, soil, potted or live plants, fog machines, bubble machines, confetti, helium balloons, and drones. In addition, all decor and event signage must be free-standing, and nothing may be affixed to Gallery walls, windows, and/or equipment.
If you are interested in an after-hours visit of the galleries for you and your guests, please include this in your Inquiry Form and a coordinator will be happy to discuss your options and any additional costs.
Our coat check is available free of charge for your guests for the duration of your event.
The Gallery will refund any payment received – not including and/or limited to the Administration Fee – if we receive your cancellation in writing at least three months prior to your event date.
Please send an email to [email protected] if you have any additional questions.
