▁as ▁the ▁principal ▁art ▁museum ▁for ▁the ▁Alg oma ▁District , ▁and ▁maintain s ▁a ▁permanent ▁collection ▁of ▁approximately ▁ 5 , 0 0 0 ▁works ▁from ▁regional ▁artists , ▁and ▁other ▁Canadian ▁artists . ▁ ▁History ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 4 , ▁the ▁arts ▁community ▁of ▁S ault ▁Ste . ▁Marie ▁formed ▁an ▁association ▁with ▁the ▁aim ▁to ▁establish ▁a ▁permanent ▁art ▁museum ▁in ▁the ▁city . ▁The ▁association ▁was ▁later ▁formally ▁incorpor ated ▁as ▁the ▁Art ▁Gallery ▁of ▁Alg oma ▁on ▁ 7 ▁July ▁ 1 9 7 5 . ▁From ▁the ▁association ' s ▁found ing , ▁to ▁June ▁ 1 9 7 6 , ▁the ▁institution ▁held ▁exhib itions ▁at ▁the ▁city ' s ▁C iv ic ▁Centre , ▁or ▁the ▁Old ▁Stone ▁House . ▁▁ ▁On ▁ 3 0 ▁June ▁ 1 9 7 6 , ▁the ▁museum ▁formally ▁opened ▁its ▁permanent ▁building , ▁en abling ▁the ▁museum ▁to ▁organ ize ▁classes , ▁exhib itions , ▁and ▁sem in ars . ▁However , ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 8 ▁the ▁S ault ▁Ste . ▁Marie ▁City ▁Council ▁opt ed ▁to ▁move ▁the ▁museum ▁to ▁C ler gue ▁Park . ▁Const ruction ▁for ▁the ▁new ▁building ▁began ▁on ▁September ▁ 1 9 7 9 , ▁with ▁the ▁building ▁opening ▁on ▁September ▁ 1 9 8 0 . ▁ ▁Architecture ▁The ▁museum ▁property ▁is ▁situated ▁on ▁the ▁north ▁shore ▁of ▁the ▁St . ▁Mary s ▁River , ▁east ▁of ▁the ▁S ault ▁Ste . ▁Marie ▁Canal . ▁The ▁property