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Our History

1943

The Willistead Art Gallery of Windsor is officially formed and opened at Willistead Manor in Walkerville, and Daphne Hein is appointed part-time curator and reports to the City of Windsor’s Public Library board.

1944

The Willistead Art Gallery of Windsor is incorporated and letters patent are issued. 1

1946

Kenneth Saltmarche is appointed full-time curator.

1949

The First Annual Sale of Canadian Paintings and Fine Crafts, which comes to be known as Art For All, is formed and continues until 1988.

1950

The Women’s Committee is formed under the auspices of Honorary Chair Mrs. Wallace R. Campbell.

1956

The Junior Women’s Committee is formed and Judith Saltmarche becomes its first chairperson.

1960

The Gallery becomes an independent institution with own board of directors. Saltmarche is appointed director and curator of a fully autonomous organization.

1969

Supplementary letters patent are issued with the name-change to the Art Gallery of Windsor (AWE).

1970

Mayor Frank Wansbrough recommends the Carling Brewery warehouse as a future home for AWE, and the building is sold to the Gallery.The first annual Art in the Park, a public outdoor art exhibition held in Willistead Park, is organized by the Volunteer Committee.

1975

The newly-renovated 60,000 square foot gallery at 445 Riverside Drive West is opened by Mayor Albert H. Weeks.

1976

Attendance for the year reaches an all-time record of 235,000 visitors.

1979

The Gallery establishes the Art Gallery of Windsor Foundation as a separate charity.

1980

The Foundation is officially incorporated and letters patent are issued.

1985

Kenneth Saltmarche resigns after 40 years of service. Alf Bogusky becomes the Gallery’s second director.

1987

445 Riverside Drive is reopened after extensive renovations and asbestos removal.

1993

Nataley Nagy is appointed the Gallery’s third director.

AWE signs agreement with the Government of Ontario to lease 445

Riverside Drive West for a pilot casino project in downtown Windsor.

1994

AWE grand opening at Devonshire Mall is attended by Dr. Shirley Thompson, Director of the National Gallery of Canada.

AWE celebrates its 50th Anniversary.

1999

AWE unveils plans for a new purpose-built gallery at 401 Riverside Drive West.

445 Riverside Drive West is demolished following its use by the Ontario Casino Corporation for eight years.

2001

401 Riverside Drive West, designed by Moffat Kinoshita / Reich + Petch, is opened to the public as AWE’s new home. Glen Cumming is appointed interim director.

2004

Gilles Hébert is appointed AWE’s fifth director and prioritizes a green energy retrofit of the HVAC system.

2010

Catharine Mastin is appointed AWE’s sixth director.

2012

The 49-year lease agreement is signed by AWE and the City of Windsor for the Gallery to occupy the mezzanine, second and third floors, and be maintained as a ‘Category A’ facility.

2013

The sale of 401 Riverside Drive West to the City of Windsor is completed and AWE becomes a lease tenant while remaining an autonomous organization.

2014

The City of Windsor names the Windsor Community Museum as co-tenant at 401 Riverside Drive West and construction begins for their main floor occupation.

2022

Art Gallery of Windsor becomes Art Windsor-Essex, living the mission and vision of the gallery’s 2021-25 strategic plan.

Kenneth and Judith Saltmarche with twin sons Noel and David, with Kenneth’s Portrait of Judy Saltmarche in rear, 1954; Image courtesy of The Windsor Star

The Carling Brewery building, Date Unknown

Inside the Art Gallery of Windsor at Devonshire Mall

Inside the Art Gallery of Windsor at Devonshire Mall