University of Victoria Legacy Art Galleries 🇨🇦

The University of Victoria Legacy Art Galleries (Legacy) serves as the university's art museum in Victoria, British Columbia, stewarding an impressive collection of approximately 18,000 objects. As a visitor, you will discover a rich mix of Canadian, Indigenous, and international historic and contemporary art. The museum activates its vast holdings for teaching, research, and public enjoyment through rotating exhibitions, community programs, and digital resources.

Rather than being confined to a single building, Legacy spans three primary exhibition sites: Legacy Downtown (located at 630 Yates Street at the corner of Broad Street), the Maltwood Gallery on campus (found on the lower level of the Mearns Centre for Learning – McPherson Library), and the campus First Peoples House. You can also see art outside the traditional gallery walls, as more than 2,000 collection pieces are displayed throughout campus buildings and the surrounding community. Explore rotating exhibits that draw from major historic donations—including global antiques from global travelers John and Katharine Maltwood, and extensive West Coast and Indigenous works bequeathed by local heritage developer Michael C.

Williams—alongside contemporary displays focusing on key societal topics like diversity and reconciliation.

What to see at University of Victoria Legacy Art Galleries

• Collection of approximately 18,000 Canadian, Indigenous, and international artworks
• Diverse Maltwood Collection featuring Chinese ceramics, Persian rugs, and English furniture
• Michael C. Williams Collection of West Coast, Aboriginal, and contemporary art
• Three main venues: Legacy Downtown, Maltwood Gallery, and First Peoples House
• Over 2,000 artworks on display in community spaces and across campus buildings

Visiting tips

Check out works from the Michael C. Williams collection displayed year-round in the public areas and suites of the historic Swans Hotel and Brew Pub.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Afternoon

How to get there & what’s nearby

University of Victoria Legacy Art Galleries is easy to reach on Victoria’s public transport, and pairs naturally with St. Andrew's Cathedral and Royal British Columbia Museum. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Victoria travel guide.