The Robert McLaughlin Gallery is excited to announce that starting on September 16th we are opening our doors later on Wednesdays with the launch of Wellness Wednesdays – a new opportunity for our community to experience art, creativity, and connection beyond our traditional daytime hours.
We have heard from many community members who want to visit the RMG but cannot always attend between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. because of work, school, caregiving responsibilities, or other daytime commitments. Extending our Wednesday hours is an important first step toward making the Gallery more accessible to more people.
Whether you stop in after work, meet a friend to explore an exhibition, or spend some quiet time with art, Wellness Wednesdays will offer a welcoming space to slow down, reconnect, and take a moment to care for yourself.
Why Wellness Wednesdays?
In alignment with our core value of care, we believe the gallery can play a vital role in building healthy community. Looking closely at an artwork, sharing ideas about a painting, exploring an exhibition, or simply gathering with others in a safe public space filled with creativity can encourage reflection, connection, belonging, and stress reduction.
Wellness Wednesdays are grounded in the idea that you do not need to be an artist to benefit from art. Sometimes, wellbeing begins with giving yourself the time and space to notice, wonder, connect, or create.
Initially, Wednesday evenings will feature flexible, self-guided experiences, including slow-looking prompts and opportunities for reflection. Over time, we aim to expand Wellness Wednesdays to include expressive arts activities, art-and-wellness workshops, wellness of body and mind workshops, and other adult learning experiences. These programs will be introduced as we secure additional funding, partnerships, and build our roster of qualified adult educators and facilitators.
Why Wednesdays?
We selected Wednesday evenings after considering how the RMG can best complement the rhythm of downtown Oshawa and the broader Durham Region. By offering a midweek cultural and wellness experience, we can expand public access while supporting, rather than competing with, the evening events preferred by many local businesses and community partners later in the week. This schedule allows the RMG to continue welcoming partner activities, rentals, and community events on weekends and other evenings. It reflects our commitment to contributing to a vibrant downtown and serving as both a public art gallery and a gathering place for our community.
Ways to get involved
Volunteer
- As we develop our volunteer docent program, we plan to introduce docent-led exhibition tours.
- As programming expands, volunteers may be needed for future wellness events.
- Let us know if you’d like to volunteer! Email [email protected] to express your interest.
Partnership
- As we build out the wellness programming we are open to exploring the various ways art and other wellness practices can work together. If your business aligns with wellness through movement or mental health, we would love to hear more about and see if there is strong alignment to partner for Wellness Wednesday activations. Reach out to our Development Lead to discuss partnership.
Sponsorship
- If you or your business have a philanthropic goal of supporting community, health and wellness, and/or the arts, consider being a sponsor of Wellness Wednesdays. As the RMG is the largest public art gallery in the Durham Region, a sponsorship would strengthen your brand identity, community reach and commitment to wellbeing and the arts. Reach out to our Development Lead to discuss sponsorship.
Donate
- As a non-profit organization your support through donations go a long way in helping us continue to serve the community. A donation to the gallery can help us enhance our wellness programming, expanding our operating hours to reach and connect more people, and so much more.
- If you would like to make a donation you can do so by visiting us in-person or donating online at the following link: Donate to the RMG!
A New Weekly Schedule
To introduce Wednesday evening access within our current staffing and operating budget, we are redistributing some of our existing public hours. As part of this change, the RMG will be closed to the public on Tuesdays.
We know that greater access matters. As our membership, donations, and other sources of support grow, we hope to continue expanding the hours and experiences we can offer.
Come as you are. Take your time, experience something new, and discover what spending an evening with art can offer.
We look forward to welcoming you to Wellness Wednesdays at the RMG!
