The ultimate practical guide for those wishing to visit the new Aberdeen Art Gallery. After a four year wait and a £34.6 million transformation it has been re-imagined, re-born and is ready to be re-discovered. Reassuringly familiar yet distinctly different. Open to all from Monday 4th November 2019. FREE entry, open 7 days. Full onsite facilities with accessible for all toilets, cafes and gift shop.
Re-imagined, re-born and ready to be re-discovered...
Aberdeen Art Gallery is once again open to the general public. Within this post I'm going to give you the ultimate practical guide to visiting Aberdeen Art Gallery. I'll answer the where, what, why, when, how and provide you with the information you'll need to make your visit as smooth and enjoyable as possible. I'm going to focus on the practicalities rather than the exhibits themselves. They are undoubtedly stunning and quite frankly speak for themselves. Suffice to say the redevelopment project has transformed the Art Gallery, Cowdray Hall and the Remembrance Hall into a major cultural attraction in the heart of the granite city.
What is Aberdeen Art Gallery?
Aberdeen Art Gallery is home to one of the finest collections in the UK, including works by important Scottish artists, designers and makers such as Henry Raeburn, Joan Eardley, Samuel Peploe, Rachel McLean, Bill Gibb and James Cromar Watt, as well as nationally and internationally-acclaimed artists including Barbara Hepworth, Francis Bacon, Tracey Emin and Claude Monet. The redevelopment has dramatically increased the amount of display space for the Nationally-Recognised Collection, with the number of galleries increasing from 11 to 19, with a further three galleries presenting a programme of regularly-changing special exhibitions. The number of items from the permanent collection on display has increased from 370 in 2015 to 1,080 in 2019.
How much did the transformatuion of Aberdeen Art Gallery cost and who paid for it?
£34.6 million
The project’s major funders are Aberdeen City Council, which has pledged £14.6m from capital funds, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund with a £10m contribution. BP has donated £1m to the redevelopment project, with the BP Galleries to host three national and international exhibitions a year, and the UK Government awarded £1.5m from the HM Treasury Libor funds to support the major renovations in the Remembrance Hall. The total from the ongoing public fundraising programme currently sits at £4.8m.
When does Aberdeen Art Gallery open?
It's now officially open!
Doors opened to the general public for the first time on Monday 4th November 2019 at 10am.
What are the opening hours of Aberdeen Art Gallery?
Monday to Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 11am - 4pm
Closed 25/26 December and 31/1/2 January
Closed 25/26 December and 31/1/2 January
How much does it cost to visit Aberdeen Art Gallery?
Entry to the exhibition spaces is FREE with no tickets required.
There is a suggested donation of £1 for a map and £5 for entrance. If you are a UK tax payer please GiftAid your donation.
How do I get to Aberdeen Art Gallery?
Aberdeen Art Gallery
Aberdeen
SCOTLAND
AB10 1FQ
Telephone 03000 200 293
Email info@aagm.co.uk
There is no onsite parking. The closest parking is at Denburn and Bon Accord Centre.
Disabled parking spaces are available outside The Robert Gordon University, which is located next to Aberdeen Art Gallery.
What exhibits can I see at Aberdeen Art Gallery?
Ground Floor
Sculpture Court
1 Collecting Art
4 Human Presence
5 Crafting Colour
6 Feasting
Level 1
7 Exploring Art
8 Adorning
9 Balmoral Phenomenon
10 French Impressions
11 First World War Remembered
12 Around Art Deco
13 James McBey - Artist Adventurer
14 Art of Empowerment
15 Paradise Lost
16 Shoreline
17 Abstract Art
18 People & Portraits
19 Express Yourself
Rememberance Hall
A space for contemplation and commemoration, honouring Aberdeen lives lost in conflict from the First World War to the present day.
A space for contemplation and commemoration, honouring Aberdeen lives lost in conflict from the First World War to the present day.
Cowdray Hall
Funded by a gift from Annie, Vicountess Cowdray, to encoutrage 'a taste for art and music in the City of Aberdeen', the hall is rebowned for its exceptional acoustic.
Funded by a gift from Annie, Vicountess Cowdray, to encoutrage 'a taste for art and music in the City of Aberdeen', the hall is rebowned for its exceptional acoustic.
Learning Space
McBey Library
Seminar Room
West Terrace
South Terrace
Touring Exhibition Galleries
Ground Floor - 2 & 3
Level 2 - 20, 21 & 22 - BP Galleries
Current touring exhibition is Martin Parr - Think of Scotland 2nd November 2019 - 23rd February 2020
Incorporating the Aberdeen at Leisure commission
What Food & Drink is available at Aberdeen Art Gallery?
Ground floor - Cafe
Level 2 - Cafe & Roof Terrace
Artisan coffees, tasty homebakes, lunches and afternoon teas.
How accessible is Aberdeen Art Gallery?
The gallery has been designed as an inclusive and accessible building, a place where everyone feels welcome.
- Guide dogs, hearing dogs and other recognised assistance dogs are welcome
- Lifts are available to all floors and there is level access to all spaces
- Changing Places fully accessible toilet on Level 2
- Accessible toilets and baby changing facilities on all floors
- Gender neutral toilets
- Portable stools and steps available to borrow for use in the gallery spaces
- Limited number of wheelchairs available to borrow from welcome desk
- Large print labels and magnifiers in many of the galleries
- Induction loops
- Quiet time on Monday afternoons
- Breastfeeding welcome
- Buggy Park (unmanned)
- Lockers (£1 non refundable)
- Staff have undergone dementia friendly training
Are there any shopping opportunities at Aberdeen Art Gallery?
Oh yes! There's two gift shops and they are stocked with gorgeous things to suit all tastes and pockets.
Gallery shop - ground floor
Exhibition shop - level 2
Is there WiFi at Aberdeen Art Gallery?
Yes! Free WiFi is available throughout.
You can also connect to +music. Specially curated playlists inspired by the collections.
Can I take photos in Aberdeen Art Gallery?
Photographs and videos for personal use are welcome in the galleries. (unless otherwise indicated)
The use of selfie sticks and tripod photography is not permitted
How child friendly is Aberdeen Art Gallery?
VERY! Lots of hands on activities especially in
G1 - digital collections wall
G7 - create station
G18 - portrait pod
- Arts Explorer promt signs throughout
- Face to face with art - family trail
- Just starting with art - family guide
- Step stools
- Stair handrails and toilet door hooks at both adult and child height
- 'Please Touch' exhibits
- Buggy Park
- Breastfeeding Welcome
- Baby changing facilities on all floors
What's different about the new Art Gallery?
- Additional third floor added
- Number of galleries increased from 11 to 22
- Fully accessible to all - changing places toilet and visitor lift
- Interactive hands on exhibits
- Dedicated learning space for school groups
- Number of objects on display increased from 370 in 2015 to 1080 in 2019.
- Improved signage/wayfinding
- Ability to host larger scale exhibitions
- Rooftop terraces with views across the city
- Enhanced programme of events
Yes the fountain is gone but the sculpture from the middle is now on the outdoor roof terrace. The granite pillars and checkered flooring remain.
The 'granite staircase' has been removed to enable increased accessibility. It was actually made of stone and wood with a thin veneer of marble.
Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums Website www.aagm.co.uk
The Scotsman - Five stars for Aberdeen Art Gallery's £34.6 million refurbishment
VisitAberdeenshire: Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire Visitor Guide
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