COVID-19 Protocol

Information about current health and safety measures can be found in the Accessibility section. If you are feeling unwell or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 please plan your visit for another time and thank you in advance for helping to keep our community safe.

Finding MSVU Art Gallery

MSVU Art Gallery’s main entrance is located on the 1st floor of Seton Academic Centre (SAC) at Mount Saint Vincent University, 166 Bedford Highway in Halifax. The SAC is visible from the main campus driveway off the Bedford Highway. Please view the map below for information about the SAC building (note: the map does not convey the topography of the campus, which is located on a hill).

1 – Lower Gallery entrance
2 – Upper Gallery entrance
P – Parking
A – Accessible Parking
B – Bus Stop

••• Green dotted line indicates driving paths
••• Blue dotted line indicates pedestrian paths

Arriving by Vehicle

At the top of the driveway loop, there is a drop-off zone located in front of the main entrance to Seton Academic Centre. To the side of the main entrance, there are two accessible parking spots with curb-cuts. Further past the accessible parking spots is a parking lot for non-accessible parking. Parking is free on weekends and metered on weekdays.

Arriving by Bus

MSVU Art Gallery is accessible by public transit, which is served by a number of routes both inbound to and outbound from Halifax. Visitors should refer to Halifax Transit for route and accessibility details or consult Google Maps for exact directions.

If you are arriving by bus outbound from Halifax, you will need to cross the Bedford Highway once you’ve disembarked at the bus stop. There is a crosswalk with curb-cuts and button-activated crossing lights to stop traffic (see map above). This is a very busy road so please be careful and ensure cars have stopped before you cross. When arriving by bus inbound to Halifax there is no need to cross the highway as you will exit the bus on the same side of the road as the Gallery. There is a paved path from the Bedford Highway to the entrance of the SAC, up a moderately steep uphill slope. This path includes curb-cuts and crosswalks where driving routes intersect with the path.

Entering MSVU Art Gallery

MSVU Art Gallery has two exhibition spaces, referred to as the Lower Gallery (located on the 1st floor of the SAC) and the Upper Gallery (located on the 2nd floor of the SAC). Both spaces are connected within the gallery by stairs or nearby elevator. The Lower Gallery is a barrier-free entrance and where the Gallery Attendant desk is located. There is also an entrance to the Gallery Office (Seton #206) and Upper Gallery via the office on the 2nd floor of Seton Academic Centre. Please see below for full details about each entrance.

Lower Gallery entrance – #1 on map

At the entrance of Seton Academic Centre there are two sets of doors to enter the building. The doors on the right are automated and are 100 cm wide. Once inside, the Lower Gallery entrance is located to the right and straight ahead. The door at this entrance is automated for accessible entry and is 90 cm wide (see image 4 below).

Upper Gallery entrance – #2 on map

The Upper Gallery can be entered via an exterior entrance, located on the North side of the Seton Academic Centre. This entrance is not visible from the Bedford Highway but can be reached by turning right at the  driveway entrance to campus and following along the road for a short distance. There is a parking lot on the left side of the road and from there is a path to the Gallery. This entrance includes two doors leading to the Upper Gallery. The exterior glass door measures 85 cm wide and is quite heavy. The interior white door has a manual door knob and measures 85 cm wide.

This is not an accessible entrance. Should you require a barrier-free route to the Gallery and/or accessible parking, please enter via the Lower Gallery.

Stairs, Elevator and Gallery Office

Inside the SAC, the Lower and Upper Gallery are connected by stairs or nearby elevator. The stairs are within MSVU Art Gallery and have 20 steps and a small landing halfway. Alternatively, a nearby elevator can take visitors from the Lower Gallery on the 1st floor to the Upper Gallery on the 2nd floor (and vice versa). The elevator doors are 90 cm wide and the buttons are approximately 135 cm above the floor. Gallery Attendants can provide assistance with locating using the elevator.

If you take the elevator to the Upper Gallery, or arrive from elsewhere on campus via the 2nd floor of the SAC, the entrance to the Gallery is next to the elevator. This door opens into the Gallery Office where there is another door to enter through to the Upper Gallery. Both doors are automated and 85 cm wide.

The Gallery Office entrance is locked on evenings and weekends and occasionally at other times. If you arrive at this entrance during regular Gallery hours (see below) and it’s locked, please ring the doorbell and a Gallery Attendant will come and greet you.