The Gallery opened as an experimental satellite of the Norman Mackenzie Gallery in 1974 under the name Rosemont Art Gallery and in 1976 it became an independent non-profit organization. The Gallery entered into a partnership arrangement with the City of Regina in 1984 to take over the gallery space in the Neil Balkwill Civic Arts Centre. After 30 years in operation, the name was changed to the Art Gallery of Regina in 2005 to better reflect the scope of the organization and its role in the community.