Editors Note: This post was originally written in 2018. We’ve updated it in June 2026 with the latest information!
Many visitors will make the trek past the Audain Art Museum on their way to the ski and bike lifts, but those who venture inside will discover a whole new world.
An art museum is like a new landscape. Just as you grab a map on the way to the mountain trails, there are ways to navigate through the galleries and artworks that ensure an exceptional arts and culture experience. Here’s the Insider’s take on how to get the most out of the Audain Art Museum.
1. Take a Tour
Walking into a gallery space can be intimidating. It’s usually pretty quiet and full of thoughtful-looking people. Questions abound – what is this exhibit about? How long do I spend on each artwork? What does that piece of art mean?
Taking a public guided tour is like wandering around with a knowledgeable and passionate friend, who can give you the background on each painting, tidbits about the artist’s life story, the techniques used to create the work, and how they help convey the artist’s message.
Details: Public Guided Tours are complimentary with museum admission and happen on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. See the Audain Art Museum website for the current schedule.
You can also experience the self-guided tour, available on the Go Whistler Tours App. This free app offers several self-guided tours around Whistler, including the Audain Art Museum Permanent Collection Tour, which introduces you to a selection of key pieces, and is available for free wherever you get your apps.
2. Bring the Kids
Kids are some of the best people to hang out with in museums and galleries. Their eyes and minds are open, they aren’t afraid to ask questions, and they see the world from a whole different perspective – which means they’ll see connections where adults may not.
Ensuring kids have early exposure to art is of major importance to museum founders Michael Audain and his wife Yoshiko Karasawa, and to support this, youth age 18 and under have free access to the Audain Art Museum. Young adults (ages 19 to 25) receive a special rate, as do seniors (65+). Kids can also grab a free scavenger hunt booklet to complete while they browse the gallery!
There are specific events and programming for children and youth, from After School Art to artistic summer camps and drop-in sessions.
Details: For more information about programming and events at the Audain, check out their events page.
3. Attend a Special Event
Start the day with Yoga at the Audain, which is held in the Cressey Hall. While you participate in a calming, one-hour practice, you can view the surrounding forests through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Access to the gallery for later in the day is included in the class price.
The architecturally excellent Audain Art Museum is gorgeous by day and equally as special by night. Evening events, like the Art of the Cocktail series, give you the chance to connect with the art in a different way during the mellower hours of the day.
They also hold exhibition-opening social events (member exclusive), art and dining experiences, meet-the-artist speaking engagements and other special functions throughout the year, so keep your eye on the Audain’s events calendar.
4. Meet the Artists
The Audain Art Museum often brings featured artists to Whistler to discuss their artwork.
Their In Conversation With speaking events dive deep into an artist’s work, about their inspiration, techniques and creative process. Be sure to view their pieces before and after the talk – the art will come alive like never before.
5. Get Hands-On
Many of the temporary exhibits have an interactive section where kids and adults can watch and do activities relating to the theme.
INSIDER TIP: There is no wrong way to do art. The Audain offers a safe and friendly environment to experiment. So go ahead and make your mark! If this leaves you wanting more, there are seasonal art lessons, including portrait, drawing, and painting workshops.
6. Buy (or Gift) a Membership
As well as supporting the Audain Art Museum, memberships provide great value, particularly if you live in British Columbia or Washington State and visit Whistler a couple of times a year.
If you live in the Sea to Sky and plan on keeping up to date with the temporary exhibitions as they come through, it’s a no-brainer – particularly as it also gives you discounts on entry for guests, purchases at the gift shop and access to a range of member-only events.
To celebrate the Museum’s 10-year anniversary this year, they have lowered their membership pricing, making it more accessible to purchase!
7. Visit the Shop
The Audain Art Museum gift shop is full of truly beautiful things, so give yourself time to explore. You may end up taking home a piece of BC art, a book by your favourite featured artist, jewellery, art supplies or a storybook for the kiddos. It’s a great place to pick up a unique memento or thoughtful gift.
8. Take Your Time
It’s like doing the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola. Sure, you can arrive late in the day and make it, but you won’t appreciate the experience as much if you’re rushing. A visit to the Audain Art Museum should leave you rested, relaxed, informed and most of all inspired.
Take time to go around the exhibits and read the didactics – a little background information can make the difference between liking and loving an exhibition. Make full use of the benches within the galleries to drink in your favourite painting for a while, or take a moment to look through one of the thoughtfully placed books.
9. Link it Up
The Audain Art Museum is part of the Cultural Connector, which also includes the Squamish Lil’ wat Cultural Centre, Maury Young Arts Centre, Whistler Museum and the PassivHaus.
By visiting more than one venue, you’ll start to get a real feel for Whistler. It layers natural history and geography with First Nations legends, and adds on the stories of settlers and the development of Whistler as a ski resort.
Exploring is easy – the central venues around Whistler Village are linked with their very own pathway called the Cultural Connector, which is open year-round. Make sure you pick up a discounted Cultural Pass online or at the Whistler Visitor Centre before you go.
10. Make it Happen
Put the Audain Art Gallery at the top of your to-do list for a recovery and/or discovery day in Whistler.
You won’t be disappointed.
Like those who ride the trails and slopes, visitors to any of Whistler’s arts and culture venues will leave with more than they bought, be it new skills, new friends or a deeper understanding of this place called Whistler and the humans who come here.
Keep an eye on Whistler’s event calendar for more arts, culture and education opportunities in Whistler across all of the venues. From comedy nights to live music, wine and art walks to new gallery exhibits, there are many mind-expanding moments to be had in the mountains.
