The Leir House Cultural Centre
Who’s In The House?
This historical building is open year-round with exhibitions, workshops, music lessons, creative drop-in groups, and more. It is a dynamic hub of community connections in the heart of our Penticton.
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Penticton & District Community Arts Council
The PDCAC works hard to provide opportunities for artists and community members to come together in celebration of all things art! We believe in a vibrant, flourishing, and sustainable artistic community that is inclusive and accessible to all.
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Penticton Academy of Music & Dramatic Arts
PAMDA’s mission is to provide music education to students of all ages and circumstances through outstanding faculty in an environment that stimulates music excellence, enriching the community at large.
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Penticton Potters' Guild
Penticton and the surrounding area has a rich community of potters who all have their own unique style and specialty. The Penticton Potters' Guild is one avenue for hobbyists to learn the craft and network together. The Guild is located at the Leir House Cultural Centre and has a membership of approximately 30 potters.
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Artists in Residence
The PDCAC hosts seven Artists in Residence at the Leir House. During their time in the program, artists work towards developing a body of work or project, that may be presented to the public, and will allow the artists an opportunity for creative growth while being part of a supportive community.
Accessibility
There are eleven steps to access the main floor PDCAC offices, galleries, and artist studios. There are eighteen steps to access the second floor and PAMDA. The Potters’ Guild, Community Room, and artist studios can be accessed from ground floor entrances on either side of the Leir House. There are washrooms on every level of the Leir House.
Public Art
Bringing Back the Salmon Chief
Sculpture installation by Clint George
Clint George’s magnificent steel sculpture was the People’s Choice winner of the 2017 Public Sculpture exhibition along Lakeshore Drive. It tells the story of how the coyote brought the salmon back to the Okanagan Valley.
When the PDCAC found out that this meaningful sculpture was available to purchase, we felt that it deserved to stay right here in Penticton as the centerpiece of the historic Leir House property. This legacy acquisition was permanently installed in front of the Leir House Cultural Centre in 2018 for the enjoyment of visitors and our community for years to come.
History of the Leir House
A family home, a nurses residence, and now a cultural hub.
Leir House is a large, eclectic 1920s stone-clad mansion situated in spacious grounds in a residential neighbourhood of Penticton. The site included numerous rock-faced walkways, ponds and garden structures in the expansive grounds, as well as several outbuildings.
It was the family home of Hugh and Joyce Leir and their 11 children. It was constructed over a period of three years starting in 1927 and completed in 1929. The house was built with lumber from Hugh Leir’s own lumber mill in South Penticton, and local river rock. During the Great Depression, Hugh employed his own mill workers building Leir House. One of the workers was also a stone cutter, making the use of local river rock a natural choice for finishing the exterior of the house.
In 1951, Leir House and its surrounding property was purchased from the Leir family by the Penticton Regional Hospital, and was used for the next 25 years as a nurse’s residence. In October 1977, the hospital board was forced to close Leir House due to lack of occupancy.
After a great deal of persuasion by the Penticton & District Community Arts Council, the City of Penticton purchased Leir House in April of 1979. The two main reasons for the City to purchase the property was firstly, to preserve an important city landmark and home of one of Penticton’s early important families and secondly, it offered an ideal opportunity to provide a cultural centre for the smaller arts groups in need of a home base.
On May 24, 1980, Leir House Cultural Centre was officially opened, with six of the eleven Leir children, as well as many of their children and grandchildren in attendance.
Architect: Robert Lyon
Builder: Hugh Leir
Community Room Rentals + Rates
The Community Room was recently renovated with support from the Hamber Foundation, Community Foundations of South Okanagan Similkameen and Canada, the City of Penticton, and generous donors in our community. It is the only space in the Leir House that is available for rent.
It is a spacious room with laminate flooring, a variety of tables, and comfortable chairs for small group meetings and workshops. It is accessed by a ground-floor door and there is a washroom on this level. There is a slight step down into the room from the hallway. It can seat 15-20 people, depending on the event.
Half Day: 9:00 am -1:00 pm or 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Weekday: $60
Weekend: $80
Full Day: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Weekday: $100
Weekend: $120
Evening: 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Any night: $80
Please note that the Leir House is a heritage building and there are parameters around the use of space and grounds. Extra charges may occur if extra staffing, use of furniture, or housekeeping is required. Connect with the PDCAC Office if you have questions or concerns regarding:
Accessing the building.
Using the grounds.
Discounts on multiple bookings.
Types of events/workshops that can be booked.
Please contact us for more information. Gallery spaces and the kitchen are not available for rent. The PDCAC reserves the right to select bookings based on what is suitable for current tenants and programming.
Thank you to the Leir House Cultural Centre Supporters
