There’s a reason the Exchange District is known as Winnipeg’s arts and culture hub. The neighbourhood is filled with creative spaces that celebrate art and spark curiosity and connection, especially if you know where to look. From an array of art galleries to heritage museums to indie cinema, there’s a whole world waiting to be explored.
This round-up is your guide to some of the Exchange District’s most inspiring arts and culture experiences.
Art Galleries
The Exchange District is home to many art galleries and creative spaces. You’ll find everything from contemporary Indigenous work at Urban Shaman to video and tech-based art at Video Pool to hands-on printmaking exhibitions at Martha Street Studio. You can shop for pieces at Katie + Gunner Gallery and Mayberry Fine Art and find a unique frame for your favourite art from Warehouse Artworks. We suggest grabbing a coffee and taking a gallery tour or heading over on First Fridays for special events and artist talks.
Check out the full list of galleries here.
Centennial Concert Hall
The Centennial Concert Hall is Winnipeg’s premier performing arts centre. Built in the 1960s, the concert hall is a destination in itself, renowned for its striking mid-20th-century brutalist design. It’s home base for the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and regularly features everything from Broadway tours to contemporary concerts. With nearly 2,300 seats and world-class acoustics, it’s the kind of place where the energy of a live performance truly comes to life.
Check out what’s happening at the Concert Hall this spring:
555 Main Street
Website: https://centennialconcerthall.com/
Instagram: @centennialconcerthall
Dave Barber Cinematheque
Dave Barber Cinematheque lives inside the historic Artspace building as downtown Winnipeg’s only cinema and a true gem for film lovers. Run by the Winnipeg Film Group, this intimate, art-house theatre has been screening independent Canadian and international films since the early 1980s. With a strong focus on community and curation, Cinematheque offers a movie-going experience that’s personal, emotional, and intentionally off the mainstream path. They release a calendar with screenings and events each month, so you can plan your visits around what speaks to you. Whether it’s a local indie, a global gem, or a rare 35mm screening, every visit feels special.
100 Arthur Street
Website: ://davebarbercinematheque.com/
Instagram: @wfgcinematheque
First Fridays in the Exchange
On the first Friday of every month, the Exchange District comes alive with community, events, and conversations. First Fridays in the Exchange is a free monthly event that invites Winnipeggers to explore galleries, studios, shops, and eateries throughout the neighbourhood. You’ll find art openings, art talks, pop-up events, guest chefs, free museum entry, live music, special events, and so much more. Every month brings something new, so check out the First Fridays site to plan your route and maximize your time exploring the Exchange District.
Website: https://www.firstfridayswinnipeg.org/
Instagram: @firstfridayswinnipeg
Manitoba Museum
The Manitoba Museum brings the stories of our province (and our planet) to life through immersive exhibits and interactive galleries. A mainstay in the Exchange since its incorporation in the late 1960s, it’s home to nine interpretive galleries, a full-dome Planetarium, and a hands-on Science Gallery, making it a one-stop destination for history buffs, science lovers, and curious minds of all ages. Explore a replica of the Nonsuch ship, stand beneath a towering bison diorama, or see a show in the stars at the Planeterium. Whatever your mood, the museum invites you to learn something new through storytelling and discovery.
To keep the museum accessible, they offer free admission from 4-9pm every First Fridays!
190 Rupert Ave
Website: https://manitobamuseum.ca/
Instagram: @manitobamuseum
Oseredok Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Centre
Oseredok Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Centre is one of North America’s largest Ukrainian heritage hubs. Housed in a historic building on Main Street, Oseredok brings together a museum, gallery, library, and archives under one roof, each offering a window into Ukrainian and Ukrainian-Canadian history, art, and identity. Oseredok keeps things fresh with changing exhibitions, hands-on workshops, and community events highlighting tradition and contemporary culture. They boast the biggest pysanka collection outside of Ukraine and host workshops where you can make your own every April. Through events and education, Oseredok invites visitors to explore Ukrainian heritage, engage with meaningful stories, and discover art, history, and identity in new ways.
184 Alexander Ave
Website: https://oseredok.ca/
Instagram: @oseredok.ca
Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre
Catch a show at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Canada’s oldest English-language regional theatre. Since 1958, RMTC has been at the heart of Manitoba’s theatre scene, offering a stage for incredible stories and world-class performances. With a full season of plays that range from the classic to the contemporary, there’s always something compelling on the marquee.
Check out Casey and Diana this season, which was inspired by Princess Diana’s historic visit to Toronto’s Casey House in 1991. Or, if musicals are more your speed, watch Murder for Two, which blends musical, comedy, and murder mystery.
174 Market Ave
Website: https://royalmtc.ca/
Instagram: @mtcwinnipeg