Aberdeen Art Gallery

About the museum

Aberdeen Art Gallery opened on 7 July 1885 in a granite building on Schoolhill designed by Alexander Marshall Mackenzie and James Matthews. The collection grew steadily from the start, and in 1900 it received the art collection of the local granite merchant Alexander Macdonald. Mackenzie added further sections in 1901 and 1905, including the Sculpture Court. In the 1920s the building was extended again with a war memorial and the Cowdray Hall, a concert hall funded by Viscountess Cowdray and opened by King George V and Queen Mary in 1925.

The collection spans several centuries, from the fifteenth century to the present day. It includes eighteenth-century portraits, Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works, the Scottish Colourists, modern pieces by Francis Bacon and Barbara Hepworth, and contemporary art that the gallery has continued to acquire. It also has a large collection of work by artists connected to Aberdeen, including enamel jewellery by James Cromar Watt and the biggest collection of outfits by the fashion designer Bill Gibb.

The gallery closed in 2015 for a £34.6 million redevelopment designed by Hoskins Architects and reopened in November 2019 with 21 galleries, including a rooftop gallery and a community gallery. In 2020 Art Fund named it one of the joint winners of the Museum of the Year award. Entry is free, and the gallery is run by Aberdeen City Council as part of Aberdeen Archives, Gallery and Museums.

Highlights

• Art collection spanning 700 years, with Monet, Francis Bacon and Barbara Hepworth
• Works by Joan Eardley and the Scottish Colourists
• Bill Gibb fashion collection and Cromar Watt enamel jewellery
• Rooftop terrace with views over the city skyline
• Cowdray Hall concert venue and Remembrance Hall

Permanent exhibitions

• The art collection – Paintings, sculpture and graphics from the fifteenth century to today, including Scottish art, Impressionists and modern and contemporary works.
• Remembrance Hall – A war memorial hall with books of remembrance commemorating those killed in the two world wars and later conflicts.

Founded

1885

Operated by

Aberdeen City Council

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free and donations are welcome. There may be a charge for some special exhibitions or events.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description

The entrance on Schoolhill has automatic doors, with a low-level push button on the granite wall to the right as a backup. There is step-free access once inside and lifts serve all three floors. Two wheelchairs can be borrowed free of charge from the Welcome Desk, and power-assisted wheelchairs, mobility scooters and buggies are welcome. The gallery has a Changing Places toilet on Level 2 as well as standard and accessible toilets. A hearing loop system, large-print information and audio description are available, and a sensory pack (ear defenders, fidget toys, sunglasses, soft toy) can be borrowed; a sensory den is set up in a quiet space on Level 2. Relaxed Mondays offer a calmer visit, mainly for families with neurodivergent children, neurodivergent people, people living with dementia and others who prefer a quieter experience. Guide dogs, hearing dogs and recognised assistance dogs are welcome and the ground-floor café provides water for them.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities

Free family trails include a 10 Things to Do trail, a Playful Spaces trail and a hunt for clay creatures called the Craiturs. There is an interactive area in Gallery 7, and regular events such as Loose Parts Play for ages 2 to 5, Art Cart craft sessions for ages 5 to 12 and monthly Baby Boogie in the Cowdray Hall. Buggy parking, baby changing, sensory bags and lockers are available.

Getting there & parking

The gallery is on Schoolhill in the centre of Aberdeen.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Lockers
• Wi-Fi

Two cafés, one on the ground floor and one on Level 2, a gift shop with pieces by local makers and jewellers, and lockers for bags. Wi-Fi is available for visitors, according to the gallery's accessibility listing.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit