About Laurie Swim Gallery
Textile artwork by internationally recognized artist Laurie Swim. Features one of Lunenburg's most striking historic buildings with works from notable Nova Scotian artists.
Features & Highlights
Detailed Information
The Laurie Swim Gallery occupies the Addington Arms at 25 Cornwallis Street in Lunenburg, a historic building that houses the quilted and stitched artwork of Laurie Swim. Swim's large-scale textile pieces depict Atlantic coastal scenes and are held in public collections across Canada. Admission is free, and the artist or her studio assistants are often on hand to walk visitors through the work.
Practical Information
Address: 25 Cornwallis Street, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, B0J 2C0. The gallery is situated in the heart of "Old Town" Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, within the historic Addington Arms building.
Contact Information:
- Phone: (902) 640-2220 (primary)
- Email: info@laurieswim.com / laurieswimartgallery@gmail.com
Hours of Operation:
- Regular Season (May - December): Open 7 days a week, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. (Note: Some sources indicate slight variations, with Wednesday hours from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM and Thursday-Sunday from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM, so calling ahead is advised).
- Off-Season (January - April): Open by appointment only. Visitors must book in advance via phone, email, or the online form on the gallery's website.
Admission: Free. No ticket purchase is required to visit.
Accessibility: The gallery is located in a historic UNESCO World Heritage building. No specific accessibility information was available; visitors with mobility concerns are encouraged to contact the gallery directly before their visit.
Booking & Visits: Walk-ins are welcome during the regular season. Appointments are mandatory for visits scheduled between January and April. For the most current hours and any seasonal changes, it is always best to call the gallery at (902) 640-2220 prior to your visit.
Swim's quilted seascapes — some spanning several metres — are built from hundreds of hand-dyed and found fabrics, and seeing them in person is very different from viewing them in photographs: the texture of the stitching and the density of the colour carry the work. The gallery is a working studio as much as a showroom, and on many days you can watch Swim or her studio assistants at work. For visitors exploring Old Town Lunenburg, it is an easy, free stop that pairs well with the town's other craft galleries and the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic.
At a Glance
| Location | 25 Cornwallis Street, Lunenburg, NS B0J 2C0, in the historic Addington Arms, Old Town |
|---|---|
| Admission | Free, no ticket required |
| Season | Open May to December; January to April by appointment only |
| Hours | 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, 7 days a week (May to December); hours may vary slightly, so call ahead |
| Phone | (902) 640-2220 |
| Website | https://laurieswim.com/ |
| Google rating | 4.9 stars (11 reviews) |
| Artwork | Large-scale quilted textile seascapes by Laurie Swim, held in public collections across Canada |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an admission charge?
No. Admission is free, and no ticket purchase is required to visit.
When is the gallery open?
From May to December it is open 7 days a week, 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, though some sources list slightly different hours (Wednesday 12:00 to 5:00 PM, Thursday to Sunday 12:00 to 4:00 PM), so calling ahead is advised. From January to April it is open by appointment only.
How do I book an off-season visit?
Visits between January and April require an advance appointment, arranged by phone, email, or the online form on the gallery's website.
What kind of art is on display?
Large quilted and stitched textile seascapes, some spanning several metres and built from hundreds of hand-dyed and found fabrics; Swim's work is held in public collections across Canada.
Can visitors meet the artist?
Often, yes. The gallery is a working studio as well as a showroom, and on many days Laurie Swim or her studio assistants are on hand and can walk visitors through the work.
Is the gallery accessible for visitors with mobility concerns?
No specific accessibility information is available for the historic UNESCO World Heritage building, so visitors with mobility concerns are encouraged to contact the gallery directly before their visit.
