Winter Programming
Download the seasonal flyer to learn about current and upcoming exhibitions and programs.
The Helson Gallery features rotating exhibitions of local art, private collections and travelling exhibitions. Join us for a variety of programming, such as exhibition receptions, artist workshops, drop-in activities, tours, and more.
9 Church St., Georgetown, ON L7G 2A3
Gallery Hours
- Wednesday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Volunteer docents are present in the Gallery subject to availability.
What's New at the Helson Gallery
Get caught up on our seasonal programming, past exhibitions, and calls for artists.
Community & School Programs
The Helson Gallery programs provide students and the community with a unique opportunity to view and create artwork.
Youth Week Art Exhibit
On display in the Helson Gallery at the Halton Hills Cultural Centre from May 1 to May 30
Past Exhibitions
Discover past exhibitions, featuring works from local artists, private holdings, and the Town's collection.
Detail of Stephanie Schirm, COVID window
Current Exhibitions
The Royal Collection Trust Project:
Canadian Society Painters in Water Colours
On view in the Helson Gallery
February 4 to March 1
This exhibition showcases the final 25 contemporary Canadian watercolours that will complete the Royal Collection Trust Project, an initiative to create a body of 100 works within His Majesty King Charles III’s Royal Collection. Don’t miss this last opportunity to view them before their journey to England.
Join us for the closing reception on Sunday, March 1, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Helson Gallery for a special send-off event.
Special thanks to Holbein and Wyndham Art Supply, sponsors of the closing reception. They will be on site with product demonstrations, giveaways, and products for sale.
Image: Brian Atyeo, Evening - Killarney Bay, watercolour
Afrofuturism - Embers of Solitude
On view in the Upper Sisnett Lobby
February 2 to March 1
Discover the work of Komi Olaf, a visual artist, writer, and poet born in Kaduna, Nigeria. His paintings use metaphor, symbolism, and cultural commentary to explore themes of decolonization through Afrofuturism, an artistic movement that reimagines African culture in relation to present and future technologies.
Join us for an artist talk with Komi Olaf on Tuesday, February 3, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the John Elliott Theatre.
Image: Komi Olaf, Across the Border
Georgetown District High School
Student Showcase
On view in the Lower Sisnett Lobby
February 3 to March 1
Celebrate the creativity and talent of a selection of Georgetown District High School students. This exhibition showcases a diverse range of works, highlighting the imagination and skill of young artists.
Image: Georgetown District High School Logo
The Mayor's Showcase
Local Artist Chris Cachia
On View in the Mayor's Showcase
Chris Cachia is a creative and educator living in Halton Hills. He works and teaches at Toronto Metropolitan University, where his focus is on the study of communication, culture, and society.
His visual artistic practice is informed, in a classical sense, by magical realism, incorporating elements of the everyday and realistic with the fantastic and dream-like; in a more contemporary sense, inspiration derives from animators and illustrators who blur the distinction between high and low arts, including through the super-flat concept and style.
The Mayor's Showcase is located at Town Hall, 1 Halton Hills Drive, Georgetown
Image: Chis Cachia, The Traveller, Abstract View
Upcoming Exhibitions
The Colour of Water
On View in the Helson Gallery
March 4 to May 10
Experience this year’s annual local artist exhibition celebrating water in all its forms: its life-giving power, its ability to shape landscapes, and its role in connecting communities. The exhibition explores the importance of waterways such as the Credit River, whose enduring influence has flowed through generations–shaping Indigenous ways of life, early settlement, industry, recreation, and ongoing conservation efforts.
Image: Carol Hughes, Floating in Blue
Between Generations: Abstract Expressions
On View in the Upper and Lower Sisnett Lobby
March 5 - April 6
Explore the work of mother-and-son abstract artists Barbara Ariss-Stroh-Wasser and Derek Ariss. This exhibition offers a compelling visual dialogue, expressed through vibrant and conceptual abstract art. Together, their work creates a dynamic conversation—between artists, concepts, time, and the audience.
Image: Derek Ariss, Transparency
Programs & Workshops
Drawing in the Gallery
January 7 to June 24, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Improve your figure drawing skills and connect with local artists every Wednesday afternoon in the Helson Gallery, with these free, self-directed sessions. Note: Bring your own art supplies (dry media only).
The Helson Gallery & Collection
The Helson Gallery features rotating exhibitions of local art, private collections and travelling exhibitions. Curated shows are also exhibited in the Sisnett Lobby of the Cultural Centre, the Georgetown and Acton Library branches and Town Hall.
Gallery staff care for and maintain the Helson, Town and Library Art Collections, offer a variety of community programs and events throughout the year, and provide opportunities for artists to sell their work. The Town’s art collections continue to grow with the support of generous donors.
At the heart of the Helson Gallery is Frederick A. Helson's outstanding gift of art to the Town of Halton Hills which tells the story of how Canada's artistic identity was forged during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As revealed through paintings by members of the Group of Seven, their predecessors and contemporaries, the Helson Collection also allows us to trace the evolution of the various organizations which supported artists during this critical time period. Additionally, an important group of European paintings afford valuable insights into artistic trends which paralleled those in Canada.
In 2021, the Helson Collection was certified as Cultural Property by the Canadian Department of Heritage, recognizing its outstanding significance.