Government of Ontario Art Collection
About the collection
The Government of Ontario Art Collection is managed through the Archives of Ontario.
The collection is comprised of approximately 2,800 original works of art, including:
- historical and contemporary paintings
- works on paper
- indoor and outdoor sculpture
- official portraits
- antique furniture and decorative objects
The collection was founded in the 1850s and is the first publicly funded art collection in Canada.
Access the collection
The Government of Ontario Art Collection is always on public display on the walls of Ontario’s legislative buildings and other Government of Ontario buildings across the province.
Sign-up for a tour of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario located in downtown Toronto.
Find a complete listing of works in the collection on the Ontario OpenData catalogue.
Contact our collection email to request a group tour of the art vault at the Archives of Ontario building.
Collection enquiries
Art loan program
The Art Loan Program provides an opportunity to showcase outstanding artworks by Ontario artists from the Collection in high profile locations within Ontario government offices. The Program is part of our commitment to make the Collection accessible to the public and to champion artistic production in the province.
In addition to the artworks which hang in public areas of government buildings, works from the collection are made available on a loan basis to:
- government offices, including ministries, boards and agencies
- members of the Legislative Assembly, including the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, the Premier, the Speaker, the Leader of the Official Opposition and MPP offices
- public institutions for exhibition purposes
For internal government loan requests please visit our Intranet site (Ontario government staff only) or contact our collection email for more information.
Copyright
Many of the works in the collection are in the public domain and can be viewed and downloaded from our Flickr page.
To obtain copyright permission for exhibition, publication, or personal use of any image from the collection, please contact our collection email.
Art acquisitions
The Government of Ontario Art Collection acquires art to:
- portray the culture, diversity and heritage of Ontario
- enhance the public environment of government buildings
- promote and showcase contemporary Ontario artists
The collection has been built through artwork donations and purchases, commissioned portraits of outgoing Government of Ontario officials, and the transfer of artwork from within other areas of government.
Submit and complete this online form if you are interested in making a donation to the art collection.