The Comox Valley Art Gallery is a contemporary art centre located in a renovated former fire station at 580 Duncan Avenue in Courtenay. Founded in 1974 as the Central Island Arts Alliance and rebranded in 1997, the gallery moved to its current location in 2005. The gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours on Tuesdays during December. There’s no admission fee, they operate on donations and community support.

The gallery presents rotating exhibitions by regional and international professional artists, with recent shows including “Fierce Transformation” (screen prints from the Wachiay Residency), “Public Place: Sacred Space” (a multi-year program on welcoming and healing themes), and the North Island Hospital Public Art Project. They run a regular film series, curated artist residency programs, and community workshops like the Community Make Art Projects for all ages and the Youth Media Project for intensive video production training. The STREAM Incubator offers learning pathways combining art and technology, and the Walk With Me program tackles community action research on drug crisis issues.

The gallery hosts seasonal events like the Winter Art Faire featuring 30+ regional artisans, Winter Solstice celebrations with live music and lantern-making, and youth film screenings. Their gift shop, Shop⋮Made, features work by over 100 local artists. People can get involved through membership, volunteering, donations, or sponsorships, and artists can submit work for exhibitions and residencies. The gallery also aims to be accessible and barrier-free for all visitors.