Downtown Halifax's Art Tour (Self-Guided)

In 2015, DHBC launched a Gritty to Pretty placemaking program to award a limited number of grants for beautification projects located in Downtown Halifax. These projects contribute to DHBC's beautification efforts to make Downtown Halifax more welcoming to locals and visitors alike. 

To see this year's grant recipients click here, and to learn more about the grant streams click here

 

Now Grab Your Camera!

Put on your walking shoes and explore ALL the public art all over Downtown. You're welcome to start your tour anywhere, but our tour starts at Raymond Taavel Park, 1004 Barrington St. where over the last few years Gritty to Pretty has been able to fund beautification projects. 

Follow our map below to help you navigate the tour. Scroll a little bit further to see a description of the projects. 

Downtown Halifax Art Tour Map

Pro tip: Click or tap the "enlarge" icon (the one with the four corners) in the upper right corner of the map to open on Google Maps. 

In July 2019, the community came together to remember and celebrate Raymond Taavel, nearly seven years after the prominent gay rights activist’s death.

The Raymond Taavel Park was born and over the years Gritty to Pretty has funded beautification projects (like gardens and lighting) for the space and soon (early 2026) OSO Planning & Design will be turning it into "A Place For Everyone." More on that soon. 

After exploring the park, just start walking up Barrington until you see a big beautiful butterfly. That's how you'll know you're going the right way.

Raymond Taavel Park

Community Flourish, 1225 Barrington Street

YWCA (old Waverley Inn), 1264 Barrington St.

Sound of Time, 1326 Barrington Street

Bus Shelter, corner of Barrington & Spring Garden

Now that we're down here, let's wander towards the water...

 

Together in Rhythm, 1919 Upper Water Street

Black Joy, 1919 Upper Water St.

Moonicorn,1919 Upper Water Street

Art by Chris Noam, 1919 Upper Water Street

A Garden of Our Own, 1919 Upper Water Street

Between the Sea and the Sky, Lower Water Street at George St.

Halifax Distillery Mural, 1496 Lower Water St.

The Sea in Her Blood, 1675 Lower Water Street

Joy Ride, I Heart Bikes, Halifax Waterfront

Sea Troll, I Heart Bikes, Halifax Waterfront

Plant Life in Mi'kma'ki

Tanisi, 1031 Marginal Rd.

Mural by Drippin_Soul @ 1031 Marginal Road

Tides of Diaspora, 1031 Marginal Rd

Mural by Jordan Bennett, 1031 Marginal Rd.

Beneath the Waves - The Dreamworld of the Blue, 1031 Marginal Road

Once you pass the bus shelter on Barrington, turn your head to the right so you don't miss the beautiful mural on the facade of the Maritime Building on Salter Street.  

 

 

Rising Tides Mural, Salter St.

Connection, 1326 Barrington St. (facing Blowers)

5194 Blowers St. (wall is on the roof and faces Blowers)

5195 Blowers St. (wall faces Blowers St., facade of The Loop and MEC)

Daisies in the Wind, 1717 Barrington St.

New Mural Coming to 1809 Barrington St.

Our Stories, Scotia Square (facing Barrington Street)

Granville Park, Cogswell District

Art by Lorne Julien @ the new Granville Park

Now let's head back...destination Grafton Street - The Art Hub.

Final stop - Grafton Park.

Warm Welcome, 1669 Granville St.

Bee Kind Mural, 1660 Hollis St.

Park and Art, Metro Park, 1556 Hollis St.

Halifax In Colour, Blowers St. (the back of 1546 Barrington St.)

Welcome to Argyle Street, 1575 Argyle St.

Magic Meadows, 1560 Grafton St.

Harmonies in Blue, 1579 Grafton St.

Mural by blazentattoo, 1580 Grafton Street

Mural by princefuze, 1580 Grafton Street

Mural by Shannon Long, 1580 Grafton Street

Mural by Slick Skills, 1580 Grafton Street

Mural by Thiago Martins Dos Santos, 1580 Grafton Street

Mural by alaskan.falcon, 1580 Grafton Street

Mural by Reno, 1580 Grafton Street

Mural by Swade Owens & Victoria Brumwell, 1580 Grafton Street

Mural by Anisa Francoeur, 1580 Grafton Street

Mural by DJ Andresen, 1580 Grafton Street

Mural by Margot Durling, 1580 Grafton Street

Mural by Daniel Burt, 1580 Grafton Street

Mural by PekingDon, 1580 Grafton Street

Mural by Daniel Burt, 1580 Grafton Street

Mural by Space 5, 1580 Grafton Street

Mikisew, The Art Hub, 1580 Grafton Street

Defeat, north side of 1600 Grafton St.

'The Story' - 1649 Brunswick St.

#PlayMeHFX Xylophones, Grafton Park

Grafton Park Benches, Grafton Park (corner of Spring Garden Road and Grafton Street)

More Public Art to Check Out Downtown

There are more art pieces to see Downtown outside of the Gritty to Pretty projects! Check them out below. 

 

Photo credits: Stoo Metz Photography

The Emigrant Statue, Halifax Seaport

Women War Volunteers, Halifax Seaport

Samuel Cunard Statue, Halifax Seaport

Sailors' Memorial, Sackville Landing, Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk

Bearly's Bar & Grill Mural, 1269 Barrington Street

The Black Market Mural, 1545 Grafton Street

The Whale, Rogers Square

Custom House Lions, Granville Mall

Origins, Ondaatje Courtyard, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia

Celtic Cross, George Street

Blowers Street Alley Mural, Blowers Street

Façade Lighting

At night, the streets of Downtown is brighter thanks to the Gritty to Pretty Façade Lighting. Check out the façade lighting projects below. 

The Brewery Market Façade Lighting, 1496 Lower Water Street

Lighting Our Past, 1521 - 1531 Grafton St.

The Stubborn Goat Facade Lighting & Mural, 1579 Grafton St.

eSpace Building Facade Lighting, 1652 - 1656 Barrington St.

Cabot Building Facade Lighting, 1725 - 1727 Barrington St.

St. Paul's Facade Lighting, 1684 Barrington St.

Fountain Campus Accent Lighting, Granville Mall/5163 Duke St.

Ferry Boat Lane, Lower Water St.