For a truly unique museum experience, you will not want to miss a visit to the Textile Museum of Canada. Its internationally recognized collection is housed within a 25,000 square foot space and is the only museum of its kind in Canada. The Textile Museum of Canada is devoted to educating the public as to the beauty and importance of the textile arts throughout history and around the globe. Along with its extensive exhibition display, the museum also includes a library, conservation and preservation area, and retail shop.

            The carpets, quilts, garments, ceremonial pieces, and artworks, give unique insight into the lives and culture of people around the world including Europe, South and Central America, China, Japan, Central Asia, the Pacific, and Africa. People all over the world, and in nearly every culture, have used textiles to serve a variety of purposes. There is the obvious utilitarian use of fiber to protect the body and provide comfort with items such as clothing, warm blankets, and carpets, but the way in which that fiber is used to carry out its practical uses, speaks volumes about the culture in which it is produced. The people's concept of beauty, their values, their spiritual beliefs, their history, are all woven into the items with which they lived on a day to day basis. Education is an important mission of the museum and it provides an extensive service of programs, tours, and lectures. There is an educational gallery called Fibrespace, in which visitors can try their own hand at weaving using a foot-powered or Japanese braid loom.

            The museum is also home to the Contemporary Gallery. This is the only gallery in Canada that provides ongoing exhibitions of contemporary art created in the mediums of textile and fiber art. The artwork created using textiles, goes beyond flat, two-dimensional beauty. It has the added dimension of texture that takes its beauty and interest to another whole level of experience. Contemporary textile art speaks to the contemporary spirit, delving into current issues that affect our lives, and our particular twenty-first century concept of art. Even the traditional craft of quilt-making is re-invented and re-conceptualized into patterns, designs, and colorations that speak to us in our current world experience.

            You will certainly wish to take something home with which to remember your visit to the Textile Museum of Canada and its gift and bookstore will fill the bill. There  you can purchase unique textile gifts, books about the world of textile, cards, paper, carpets, and clothing.    

            The helpful staff at our Toronto Suites will be happy to give you directions to this unique museum located at 55 Centre Avenue.