Discover a superb showcase of Canadian history, visual arts and performing arts at the Confederation Centre of the Arts. Browse collections of works by recognized Canadian artists from the 19th century to the present day. Watch concerts, enjoy interpretations of Broadway shows and join a guided tour of Charlottetown’s historic district with costumed actors. The Confederation Centre of the Arts is housed in four impressive and interconnected sandstone cube buildings on Queen’s Square.
Start your visit by learning about the 1864 Charlottetown Conference, which led to the federal unification of Canada’s British colonies. Short movies and interpretative exhibits detail the events of the conference and the creation of a new nation. Stand outside Province House, where the conference took place. Understand more on walking tours guided by actors dressed as important figures, such as John Alexander Macdonald, who was Canada’s first prime minister.
Go to the Confederation Centre Art Gallery to see a selection from its catalog of 16,500 artworks and archives. Pre-Confederation artists represented include Cornelius Krieghoff and Fanny Amelia Bayfield. Gaze in appreciation at Charlottetown Revisited, an abstract mural by Quebec-born Jean-Paul Lemieux. Look for the exhibit of 16 novel manuscripts written by the revered novelist Lucy Maud Montgomery.
Book tickets for a show at the center’s theater. Enjoy live concerts, stand-up comedy performances and plays such as Anne of Green Gables: The Musical and Mamma Mia! Participate in two performing arts festivals. The Charlottetown Festival takes place between June and September while Live at the Centre runs from October to May.
The cultural center sits in the heart of Charlottetown, a short walk from other major city attractions. Beaconsfield Historic House and the Government House of Prince Edward Island are both less than 15 minutes by foot. Use metered parking available on the surrounding streets.
The Confederation Centre of the Arts is open daily and theater shows take place year-round. The art gallery remains closed on Monday and Tuesday between October and May. Join a walking tour, offered from Tuesday to Saturday. Visit the center’s official website for full details.
