Temporary exhibits
Tulip Legacy Exhibit
In May, learn more about the Tulip Story by visiting the Tulip Legacy Exhibit at Commissioners Park. You’ll find out about:
- Princess Juliana of the Netherlands’s stay in Ottawa,
- The birth of Princess Margriet at the Ottawa Civic Hospital,
- The role of Canadian soldiers in helping to liberate the Netherlands during the Second World War, and
- The Capital’s tulip tradition.
Plaza Bridge Outdoor Exhibit
Canada in Space
Spanning the Rideau Canal, near the National War Memorial, Plaza Bridge is the site of Canada in Space, an outdoor exhibit on display until November 2026. This exhibit is presented through a partnership between Canadian Heritage and the Canadian Space Agency.
The dream of sending Canadians into space began with a robot. In the early 1970s, NASA turned to Canada to build a device that could move and repair equipment in space. The result was Canadarm—a robotic arm that earned Canada international recognition.
Canada’s success in robotics opened the door for Canadians to travel into space. In 1984, Marc Garneau became the first Canadian to journey into orbit. In the years that followed, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronauts joined space shuttle crews and supported scientific research on the International Space Station. Now, with the Artemis II mission to the Moon, Canada has begun an exciting new chapter in space exploration.
But space exploration also matters to us here on Earth. Space research leads to modern technologies that improve our everyday lives, from medicine to more accurate weather forecasting.
Canada’s space journey is built on bold ideas and successful collaborations. From cutting-edge robotics to missions to the Moon, Canadian leadership in space exploration continues to drive innovation and inspire new generations to reach for the stars.
"he(art)work” – Pedestrian Tunnel Exhibit
In the fall of 2024, Canadian Heritage and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) partnered to present an exhibition featuring eight large-scale reproduction artworks, curated by Franchesca Hebert-Spence. The exhibition, “he(art)work”, showcases selected works from CIRNAC’s Indigenous Art Collection. You can admire these works in the West Pedestrian Tunnel near the Portage Bridge until September 2026.
We Are Seeds
We Are Seeds is an outdoor mural created in August 2021 by Claudia Gutierrez and presented by Canadian Heritage in collaboration with Zibi. Gutierrez, a Latin-Canadian artist, draws inspiration from the Mexican proverb: “They tried to bury us. They didn’t know we were seeds.” The mural responds to this time of crisis by celebrating the restorative power of perseverance and resilience. Two nurturing hands grasp a vase with foliage abundantly growing from its top and roots breaking free from its bottom. As we cautiously look forward to a time of reactivation and regeneration, the single falling leaf reminds us of the fragility that will always persist.
Claudia Gutierrez is an Ottawa-based artist who has specialized in painting and printmaking. More recently, she has pivoted to textile-based work to challenge the boundaries between art and craft. We Are Seeds was created with the assistance of Kiana Meness and Jose Palacios.
The mural is located at the intersection of Eddy Street and Alexandre-Taché Boulevard in Gatineau and will be on display for the next several years.