Walter Phillips Gallery FAQ

Staying safe as you visit us

When does the Gallery reopen to the public?

Walter Phillips Gallery will be open to the public on Fridays and Sundays from 1pm to 6pm, beginning June 18. Pre-registration is highly recommended as five individuals will be able to experience the exhibition at a time. Drop-ins are welcome however will be subject to capacity. View Details.

Where is Walter Phillips Gallery located?

Walter Phillips Gallery is located on the ground floor of Glyde Hall. From Downtown Banff, follow Buffalo Street and drive up the hill to Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Turn left and follow the signs to the gallery. See our Campus map.

How do I access Walter Phillips Gallery?

Our building is currently undergoing renovations to its exterior siding which has resulted in temporary suspension of the use of the wheelchair ramp to enter Walter Phillips Gallery. If wheelchair access is required please contact Walter Phillips Gallery staff at walter_phillips_gallery@banffcentre.ca, by phone at 1.403.762.6281, or when booking through Calendly to arrange alternate entry through the Jeanne and Peter Lougheed Building. A parking spot adjacent to the Jeanne and Peter Lougheed Building is also currently available for use for this purpose and a staff member will need to be present to open this entryway which is otherwise currently closed.

If you do not require wheelchair access, entry to Walter Phillips Gallery from the road via the stairs remains available throughout the duration of the renovations. Please park in the 2-hour parking stalls directly across from the Gallery and in front of the Sally Borden Building. Overflow parking is located beside our Professional Development Centre building. When you arrive for your appointment, please wait at the entrance for a staff member to come and welcome you. The main doors currently remain locked as our building has limited access. Please also note that during the renovations, access to the permanent public artwork, Butterfly Garden by Mike MacDonald is also temporarily suspended.

What are the new hours of operation?

Walter Phillips Gallery will be available to visitors who have booked appointments on Fridays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Private, one-on-one virtual tours can also be scheduled for Thursday and Saturday afternoons from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Are walk-ins welcome or do I need to sign up for an appointment?

Pre-registration is highly recommended as five individuals can experience the exhibition at a time, please book your visit online. Drop-ins are welcome however will be subject to capacity. When you arrive, please wait at the entrance for a staff member to come and meet you. The main doors currently remain locked as our building has limited access.

What do I do if I am running late for my pre-booked appointment time?

Please arrive on-time to ensure availability in terms of capacity. If you do arrive after your appointment time and are accessing Walter Phillips Gallery via the stairs, kindly wait outside until our staff can open the door for your visit. If you are accessing Walter Phillips Gallery via the Jeanne and Peter Lougheed Building, please call our staff at 1.403.762.6281 as this building is currently closed to the public. 

What access information is available for this exhibition?

This exhibition includes video work with ambient sound as well as works in photography and painting. Transcripts of the video works are available at the Walter Phillips Gallery front desk. It is our hope that everyone who desires to is able to experience this exhibition. We recognize that access is a contextual and dynamic process and are here to help you navigate your access; please contact Walter Phillips Gallery by email at walter_phillips_gallery@banffcentre.ca, by phone at 1.403.762.6281 or when booking through Calendly. The main gallery doors and private single stall washroom are equipped with automatic door openers. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Can we book a tour as a group?

We ask that each individual make their own appointment. Virtual tours for groups can also be arranged by contacting Walter Phillips Gallery by phone or email. 

Do I need to wear a mask?

Visitors are required to wear masks in all indoor public spaces following the guidelines from the Town of Banff. Please, put on your mask before you enter the building.

Do you provide face masks?

We do not provide masks. Masks can be purchased from various businesses in town.

Is there anything else I need to bring?

We ask that visitors bring a pair of headphones with them to experience one of the works in the exhibition. This request is to ensure visitor safety while also encouraging sustainability. Disposable headphones will be provided at no cost to those who do not bring a personal pair.

Do you provide a hand sanitizer?

The hand sanitizer station is located by the entrance to Walter Phillips Gallery.

Do I need to maintain physical distancing in the exhibition?

Once you enter the exhibition, visitors must practice practice physical distancing of 2 metres / 6 feet at all times.

What other measures have you introduced to keep everyone safe?

The safety of our staff and guests is our top priority. Following the guidelines from Alberta Health, we have increased cleaning and disinfection of the high-touch areas including outside and indoor door handles, all surfaces, washrooms, and more. A plastic guard has been added above the front desk to ensure that our staff can adhere to physical distancing guidelines. Our staff is required to complete health screening before their shift and wear a face mask.

When should I cancel my visit?

To ensure a healthy and safe campus we ask that if you are experiencing a fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, or shortness of breath, have traveled outside Canada in the last 14 days or have been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the last 14 days that you do not arrive on campus for your booked appointment. These questions will be confirmed with you upon arrival and if a yes answer is received to any of these questions, we will ask you to rebook your appointment online for a future date as you will not be permitted into the gallery.

Is the coat check open?

At this time no coat check will be provided.

What else is open on campus?

At this time, most of the facilities remain closed but we are working hard to gradually reopen our campus safely and sustainably both for our staff and guests. To stay up-to-date on what is open, follow this page.

I recently visited Walter Phillips Gallery and have tested positive for COVID-19. What should I do?

Please contact AHS at 811.