ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
We have everything you need to keep entertained – a vibrant arts community, thriving music scene, local theatre, and professional sports.
Art Galleries & Artists
13BrokenHorses
Watercolour artist who does beautiful, expressionist cityscapes and portraits.
Art Gallery of Hamilton
Hamilton’s biggest gallery – they have a massive, nationally important collection of work and great programming. It houses over 9500 pieces – some of my favourites are the Keith Haring Outdoor Green Sculptures
Carnegie Gallery
Dundas gallery showing local arts and crafts from its members
Centre3
An artist-run centre that promotes print and media arts, offering workshops and a venue for exhibits and sale of a variety of artistic products. My go to place for cool screen print t-shirts
Creations Gallery
Since 1986, a family owned gallery in Ancaster, was just expanded in November 2014 to allow for more display space for artist shows, including one of my faves Dave Hind!
Dope Chief
Incredible local artist with unmistakable style and a distinctly neon palette. Works in painting, sculpture and apparel design.
Dundas Valley School of Art
An independent, not for profit art school, you can take a course in art history, ceramics, drawing, jewellery-making, painting, printmaking, design, photography and sculpture.
Earls Court Gallery
Ottawa St N gallery specializing in historic and contemporary Canadian art
Gooderham Gallery & Fine Art Studio
At the corner of Cannon & Catherine, you can find the workspace of watercolour Artist Eva Ivanov
Gord Leverton
Another of the originals I am blessed to have in my personal collection. Gord’s style is just as distinct as Julia Veenstra’s yet SO different – very clean, contemporary lines, his pieces are signified with the rooftops of central Hamilton’s old homes
Hamilton Artists Inc
Not-for-profit artist-run centre and gallery since 1975.
Hamilton Arts Council
A central hub for creating new partnerships among individual artists, organizations, and businesses in the region
James Street Art Crawl
The 2nd Friday of every month (yes even in the winter months) the galleries, restaurants and shops on James Street North open their doors to the public to check out musical acts, new and favourite artists shows. In the warmer months, you’ll also find all sorts of vendors set up outside on the sidewalks.
Jelly Brothers
Dan and Matt Jelly are a pair of incredibly talented brothers, artists and active members of the Hamilton Community. Their popular Neighbourhood prints are sold at Mixed Media and you can order prints off their website as well.
Julia Veenstra
Julia is I think my absolute favourite local artist. I am lucky enough to have one of her large scale Giclee Prints in my dining room. Swoooon! Every year she hosts a Square Foot Show, where original pieces 12 x 12″ pieces of her own and other many other artists sell for $250 each. I have lined up myself to grab some of these wonderful pieces of hers, and of Paul Elia, another local artist.
Lester Coloma
If you’re walking around the James Street North area, you won’t be able to miss Lester’s amazing mural’s at the Tivoli Lot and on the side of Mixed Media – how can you not notice a giant rabbit riding the back of a tortoise?
McMaster Museum of Art
Public gallery on the Mac campus with a historic collection and contemporary exhibitions
Natalie Czerwinski
Local illustrator with sweet ink and watercolour prints of Hamilton homes, buildings and streetscapes.
Paul Elia Studio Gallery
Gallery and studio space of local artist Paul Elia, known for his work showing Hamilton’s streetscapes
Expressive botanical painting. Check him out at the AGH and The Assembly Gallery. And you can often find him working away with Dave at King West Books
Stev’nn Hall
Once a Toronto based artist, Stev’nn now calls Hamilton home and works out of an incredible home studio creating his stunning works mixing photographs and paint. I don’t own one of his pieces….yet…. 🙂
The Cotton Factory – 270 Sherman
In lower Hamilton, north of Barton, you’ll find 270 Sherman, which is a former cotton mill that has been transformed into a creative industries complex, with space for workshops, galleries, office space for creative professionals, and studios for artists.
Turnpike Art Collective
Contemporary art gallery on King St E. Collective model offering fine art printing, art supplies and art workshops.
Music Venues & Musicians
Mid-sized venue by Sonic Unyon on Caroline St north of Central Park. This community-first events hub has a flexible space and focuses on community, arts, and special events.
Core Entertainment Venues
Big names come to perform at FirstOntario Place (formerly Copps Coliseum), FirstOntario Concert Hall (formerly Hamilton Place), and The Studio
New Vision Music Hall
Incredible new venue in the New Vision United Church. A much-needed mid-sized venue for the community.
The Casbah
Intimate venue that hosts top Canadian and international bands, with independent craft beers on tap.
Local Musicians & Bands
Teenage Head, Jeremy Fisher, Ellevator, The Arkells, Whitehorse, The Dinner Belles, The Vaudevillian, Ginger St. James, Stan Rogers, The Dirty Nil, Terra Lightfoot, Oh Susanna, Tom Wilson, Daniel Lanois, Blackie & The Rodeo Kings, Ash & Bloom to name just a few
THEATRE & CINEMAS
You can catch the latest releases at Jackson Square’s theatre, or at your standard Silver City locations in Ancaster and Upper Stoney Creek. In warmer months you can get the classic outdoor experience at the Starlite Drivein Theatre, in Upper Stoney Creek.
Theatre Ancaster
Over 2 decades of musical community theatre.
Theatre Aquarius
Located in Beasley on King William – it’s not only a leading performance space for Canadian theatre, it also offers a training programme for actors, singers and dancers. It’s operates the Dofasco Centre for the Arts
Fringe Festival
Gives even non-regular theatre goers the chance to check out all sorts of shows and performances.
The Players Guild
At Queen & Main, this performance space is North America’s oldest community theatre!
The Staircase
Hamilton’s favourite theatre is back this summer! Relay Coffee Roasters, HubUp Event Management, and Fable & Folly Podcast Network have teamed up to manage this classic arts hub. Stay tuned for updates.
Playhouse Cinema
An independent arthouse cinema and cultural hub in a restored 1914 theatre. Located on Sherman Ave N near Barton St.
Westdale Theatre
A beautifully renovated cinema in the heart of Westdale Village.
Nightlife
Augusta Street
Beer lovers rejoice, August is lined with pubs and has a great, laid-back late night scene.
Hess Village
Boasts lots of late night entertainment with dancing, wine bars and cocktails.
Check out this listing of local bars and breweries for more nightlife options.
SPORTS
Ticats
Hamilton is a big supporter of it’s CFL team, The Ti-Cats – OSSKEEWEEWEE! You can’t beat the energy of a hometown game!
Forge FC
The newest addition to Hamilton sports is our soccer team that competes in the Canadian Premier League and plays at Tim Horton’s Field.
Hamilton Bulldogs
Our official OHL team, you can catch them playing at FirstOntario Centre.
The Cardinals
Hamilton’s baseball team with home games at Mohawk Sports Park (Bernie Arbour)