Ottawa’s economy is based on the activities of the ministries, the federal government and the Parliament of Canada, but a large segment of the workforce is employed in the high-tech and tourism sectors and, obviously, the last one is suffering greatly from the current situation so it’s good that Canadians are taking the chance to explore their own country a bit this year.
Among Ottawa’s major attractions is undoubtedly the so-called Parliament Hill but Ottawa is above all a city very much linked to culture and this is testified by the presence of universities, libraries and numerous museums.
The National Gallery of Canada is one of the most important museums in Canada.
The museum is housed in a glass and granite building with a view of Parliament Hill and the place was designed by Moshe Safdie and inaugurated in 1988.
The museum has a large and varied collection of paintings, drawings, sculptures and photography.
Although focused on Canadian artists, many European artists are also present in the collection, including Picasso, Bernini, Dalì, Matisse, Van Gogh and Chagall.
The collection of contemporary art is also very substantial and includes some works by Andy Warhol and other artists.
Outside, ideally welcoming visitors, is the huge spider named ‘Maman,’ a sculpture by the French Louise Bourgeois.
The National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa is one of the most famous and renowned museums of ancient and modern art in Canada and throughout the world.
It is great to have such a museum right here in Ottawa and it’s where it belongs given the fact that Ottawa is the capital of Canada.
In 1990, Barnett Newman Voice of Fire was purchased amid controversy for almost two million Canadian dollars.
In 2005 the museum bought a painting by Francesco Salviati for over 4 million and, also in 2005, a large sculpture by Louise Bourgeois was installed in front of the building.
At the National Gallery of Canada are also the important works of Tom Thomson, of the Group of Seven, Emily Carr, Alex Colville and Thomas Reid MacDonald.
Now it is possible to visit the newly expanded downtown gallery to see local, national and international art in an airy, light-filled building and step inside a luminous cube for a unique and free cultural adventure.
One can learn about Ottawa's artistic past and present at the Ottawa Art Gallery (also called OAG) and discover the world of Indigenous art. You can also spend time on the outdoor terraces, get creative in the Studio which offer workshops for all and discover locally homemade goods and regional art at the OAG shop or relax at the gallery’s café.
Another interesting visit is that of the Canada Science and Technology Museum, founded in 1967 on the occasion of the country's centenary, it was the first museum to display interactive content.
The museum's role is to help the public understand Canada's technological and scientific history.
In November 2017 the museum reopened with a new look and completely modified spaces.
The Canadian Children's Museum, dedicated to children's knowledge and the Canadian Postal Museum, which houses the state's postal heritage are also great places where to spend a rainy day.
The Children’s Museum is an interactive exhibition that will allow you not only to touch, climb, interact with the objects shown, but also to wear costumes and participate in the activities proposed to tell children about the richness of cultural diversity. Although they are imposing restrictions at the moment in normal times it is a paradise for kids.
The Canadian postal museum instead is a museum specialized in the collection, research, conservation and exhibition of objects and documents relating to the history of the development of the postal service.