More than two years after Kawartha Art Gallery first announced plans for a new permanent home in downtown Lindsay, the long-awaited space is finally complete.
The not-for-profit public art gallery will celebrate the grand opening of its new home at 19 Cambridge Street South from 1 to 3 p.m. on Friday, November 20.
The opening completes a major transition for the gallery, which has operated for years from the second floor of the Lindsay branch of the Kawartha Lakes Public Library and has been working toward a dedicated space that will allow it to expand exhibitions, programming, and community engagement.
A new home years in the making
In spring 2024, Kawartha Art Gallery announced plans to lease the approximately 3,000-square-foot main floor of 19 Cambridge Street South from Linborough Property Corp.
At the time, executive director Susan Taylor told Kawartha Lakes city council the gallery’s existing space at the library was restricting the growth of both the gallery and the library.
Moving to a more visible downtown location with additional space and greater control over its operations, she said, would “fundamentally change” the gallery’s operations, allowing it to expand exhibitions, programming, staffing, and community outreach.
The gallery had originally anticipated moving into the building in September 2024, but the project took longer than expected. In September 2025, the gallery said it had overcome a significant obstacle and that plans for the Cambridge Street property were again moving forward.
By May of this year, renovations were well underway, with the gallery reporting that the floor had been poured and construction was progressing.
With the work now complete, the gallery says its new home will provide a permanent foundation for exhibitions, educational programming, its permanent collection, and opportunities for people throughout Kawartha Lakes to connect through art.
City investment and support from the Found family helped make move possible
The City of Kawartha Lakes has played a significant role in helping the gallery establish its own permanent space.
In April 2024, city council approved an additional $150,000 for the gallery from the municipality’s 2023 budget surplus. The money was intended in part to help cover the cost of moving into and leasing the Cambridge Street location.
That funding built on an earlier municipal commitment approved in 2023 to provide the gallery with $50,000 annually for three years in operating support.
“The Kawartha Art Gallery is an important cultural institution in Kawartha Lakes and the city has been a proud supporter of its commitment to strengthen the arts and culture sector in our area, which it has accomplished with great success,” mayor Doug Elmslie said in the grand opening announcement.
Elmslie noted the gallery has provided programming for seniors, youth, and other residents while promoting its mandate of recognizing “the art in everyone.”
“It is encouraging to see the gallery finally have a home of its own where it can continue to flourish and inspire all those who visit there,” he said.
The Kawartha Art Gallery has also credited the Found family and Linborough Property Corp. with helping bring the project to fruition.
Founder and former president of Linborough, the late Ken Found’s legacy continues through the Ken Found Art Fund at the Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes, which was established to support the arts. The Found family’s support, together with its partnership with Linborough, helped advance the dedicated gallery space.
“My father, Ken Found, was born in downtown Lindsay and gave much of his life back to this community,” Wesley Found said.
“I think he would have loved this day. Not for the building. For the people who will walk through its doors.”
Found said a welcoming physical space where people can connect has become particularly valuable in an increasingly digital world.
“A place that welcomes everyone, at little or no cost, is a gift to a community,” he said. “This home is for the community, not just the arts.”
A building with roots in Lindsay’s earliest history
The gallery’s new home brings new life to one of downtown Lindsay’s historic buildings.
Although its precise construction date is unknown, research conducted by Linborough Property Corp. indicates 19 Cambridge Street South was standing before the Great Fire of Lindsay in July 1861.
Originally built as a stable and livery, it was one of several liveries operating in Lindsay during the 19th century. The building was expanded from approximately 42 to 81 feet in length before 1887.
On September 29, 1887, future federal cabinet minister Sir Sam Hughes purchased the property for $700 to house the Victoria Warder newspaper. The building was subsequently expanded and modified to accommodate the newspaper’s printing operation.
Over its long history, the property also served as a bus terminal and housed restaurants including the Coach House and Joel’s Restaurant.
Around 2011, the Kawartha Lakes Centre of Hope moved into the building and operated there for about seven years before relocating. After the property sat vacant for around five years, Linborough Property Corp. purchased it in February 2023.
Linborough undertook extensive renovations intended to preserve references to the building’s history, including barn-door-style entrances and the reintroduction of features inspired by the windows from its days as a livery.
A permanent foundation for arts and culture
Kawartha Art Gallery says its new home will allow it to strengthen partnerships and expand opportunities for artists, students, residents, and community organizations across Kawartha Lakes.
The gallery describes its mission as advancing a healthy rural creative economy through art and cultural programs and services, while advocating for accessible arts experiences across a geographically large municipality.
Ontario tourism, culture and gaming minister Zee Hamid, who will be unable to attend the grand opening in person, is expected to provide a video greeting.
Kawartha Art Gallery board chair Don Hughes said the completed building represents the contributions of numerous partners and supporters over several years.
“This new home is possible because of the commitment of many people who believe that arts and culture matter,” Hughes said. “The city’s investment, the Found family’s generosity and the support of community partners have helped create something that belongs to the entire region.”
Hughes said completing the building is an important milestone, but what happens inside it will ultimately determine its value.
“What matters most is what happens here: people connecting through art, artists being supported and communities discovering new opportunities together,” he said. “This is what community builds.”
The grand opening of Kawartha Art Gallery’s new home at 19 Cambridge Street South in Lindsay will run from 1 to 3 p.m. on Friday, November 20. Residents from across the City of Kawartha Lakes are invited to attend.
For more information about Kawartha Art Gallery, visit www.kawarthagallery.com.
