Audain Art Museum

The Audain Art Museum sits in Whistler, British Columbia and occupies a 56,000-square-foot purpose-built gallery that opened to the public in 2016. It was designed by Patkau Architects to present Michael Audain’s private collection and to function as a public cultural facility governed through a not-for-profit museum structure.

The building is set on a moderately forested site of spruce and cedar in the Fitzsimmons Creek floodplain; project designers removed only a single tree during construction and used a recessive cladding and sensitive siting to help the structure blend into the forest. The design responds to heavy local snowfall and potential flood risk and has won multiple architecture awards for its use of wood and site-sensitive form.

The permanent collection comprises more than 300 works focusing on coastal British Columbia, from 18th-century Northwest Coast material through major holdings by Emily Carr and important post-war modernists, to contemporary artists from the province. Galleries are arranged to show both the historic and the modern together, and the museum also stages rotating temporary exhibitions; all public areas are wheelchair-accessible.

• Emily Carr holdings: A broad representation of Emily Carr’s work across periods offers insight into one of British Columbia’s most influential artists.
• Northwest Coast masks and carvings: A significant selection of traditional Northwest Coast First Nations masks and carvings highlights cultural and historical threads in the collection.
• Contemporary British Columbian art: Works by contemporary artists from the province, including photography and installation, show the region’s current artistic voices.
• Architecture and material detail: Patkau Architects’ wood-clad galleries, considered detailing and gallery light are themselves a major draw for visitors interested in modern architecture.
• Temporary exhibitions: Rotating special exhibitions complement the permanent collection and are a reason to check what is on during your visit.

The museum is in Whistler village, a short distance from the resort centre and adjacent accommodation and visitor facilities. The nearest major airport is Vancouver International Airport (YVR) about 120 kilometres to the south along the Sea-to-Sky corridor.

There is no regular intercity passenger rail service directly to Whistler; the closest major rail and intercity-bus terminals are in Vancouver, from where scheduled shuttle services, private transfers or driving on the Sea-to-Sky Highway cover the last stretch to Whistler. Within Whistler the museum is reachable on foot from the village core or by local taxi and bus services.

• Allow about one to two hours to explore the permanent collection and a temporary exhibition; check the museum website for current shows before you go.
• Dress for the mountain weather in winter and shoulder seasons, as Whistler sees heavy snowfall and the museum sits in a forested site.
• All public areas are wheelchair-accessible, but check accessibility details for specific programs or events if you have particular needs.
• Photography and reproduction rules can vary by exhibition, so check the museum’s policy on arrival or online.