Art galleries exhibition spaces foundations and cultural centers Scotland

Housed in the former editorial offices of the Glasgow Herald, the Lighthouse building was the first commission for the great Mackintosh in 1893. It is now the home of Scotland's Centre for Architecture & Design, spread over five floors. The Mackintosh Centre is dedicated to the city's leading builder and his work, while the other levels are home to changing and temporary exhibitions. A lookout point at the top offers lovely views of Glasgow. Guided tours are available on Saturdays.

During its various reigns, the royal family acquired a sumptuous collection of works of art from all over the world. The Queen's Gallery was inaugurated by Her Majesty in 2002 and showcases some of the greatest masters of classical, baroque and Flemish painting, as well as pieces acquired during trips abroad. It is housed in an old Victorian church, just across the street from the Scottish Parliament. The exhibitions change regularly and the programming can be consulted online.

This important cultural centre has a rather prestigious collection of paintings from the 19th (Pre-Raphaelite, English and Scottish painters) and 20th centuries. It has a fabulous collection of fine art, but not only that. You will also see a collection of decorative arts (15,000 pieces), covering all facets of this art. It also features maritime history, the city's industrial history, an archaeology collection and a numismatic collection. Its renovation was recently completed (2017), providing a successful transformation.

The Perth Museum & Art Gallery traces the history of the city and the region, from geology, social facts, art, the environment... The statues, sculptures and paintings are interesting and some archaeological objects are more than 10,000 years old. There is also a collection of photos on local life that plunges into the past and temporary exhibitions all year round. The lovely neo-classical building alone is worth the trip.

This historical museum is located in a building with beautiful neo-gothic architecture. It would be ideal to visit on arrival in Dundee to better understand the city. Two floors and eight galleries tell the story of the city and the whole region over some 400 million years. The first men, the Victorian era, the whaling industry and many others are the subject of much attention, with the help of numerous period objects of great heritage and aesthetic value. An audioguide allows you to enjoy a complete visit in French.

Fans of art, crafts and design will come here to stroll through the former Victorian baths, which have been converted into a vast exhibition space. Popular artists come to present their work and creators are constantly working on it. Ceramics, pieces by cabinetmakers and glassblowers, contemporary furniture, jewellery, paintings and many others are displayed on several bright floors. The Tapestry Studio showcases the contemporary art of hand-woven tapestry and is world-renowned.

The National Library regularly exhibits a selection of manuscripts, engravings and other works on paper on various themes. Two temporary exhibitions are scheduled during the year. The John Murray Archive is on permanent display. Other famous manuscripts include Charles Darwin's original Origin of Species, but also rare books in gaelic scottish and Lowland scots, as well as old maps.

What better place than the base of a former volcano to erect a museum in honour of Earth sciences? Our Dynamic Earth opened in 1999, in memory of local geologist James Hutton, whose work was taken over by Darwin himself. The long white curve of the structure that appears to answer the stony rock on Salisbury Hill Hill is reminiscent of a shell. Behind its walls, videos, light cards, 3 D animation and interactive screens make the Big-bang, galaxies, world history, its glaciations, mountains, volcanoes, tectonic plates and natural disasters. Our beautiful blue planet will have no secrets for you.

This excellent gallery of contemporary art is particularly innovative thanks to quality programming. It shows both international and local artists and a very good bookstore dedicated to discipline. Just opposite the train station, it allows you to extend the pleasures of the National Gallery of Modern Art for those who like it. Also a coffee.

The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum holds in its collections some 40,000 objects and works of art - paintings, photographs, sculptures, and miscellaneous art objects - representing Stirling around the world and showing what Stirling is all about. Three galleries alternate temporary exhibitions. You may meet Oswald Clingan-Smith, the master cat, in the museum spaces or in the library. The place also has a café and a shop.

The Pier Arts Centre is the Orkney Museum of Contemporary Art. Located in Stromness, it houses a fine collection of works by British artists from the 20th century to the present day. Barbara Hepworth, Sylvia Wishart, Robert Adams and Callum Innes are just a few of the names. The collection has been recognized as being of national importance and its works travel regularly around the world. A varied programme of events is held throughout the year, with exhibitions and activities. A library is also accessible.

Inspired by the Athenian Temple of the Four Winds, the City Observatory was an astronomical observatory from 1776 to 2009. The Collective Gallery moved there in 2018. It is a contemporary art gallery specializing in visual arts. Free tours (in English) are offered every Saturday at 2pm. The exhibitions vary and systematically feature international contemporary artists who are committed to thinking about urban space. Try out the audioguides to discover Carlton Hill through the eyes of different artists.

The City Art Centre specialises in Scottish painting from the 17th century to the present day, with over 4,500 works by major artists such as William McTaggart, Joan Eardley, George Henry, Edward Hornel, William George Gillies, Anne Redpath and Elizabeth Blackadder. Contemporary artists include Christine Borland, Rosalind Nashashibi and Toby Paterson. Edinburgh is, of course, the subject of many subjects, as are the Highlands, the sea and portraits. Temporary exhibitions are also organized.

Contemporary art lovers will not miss the Royal Scottish Academy after their visit to the Scottish National Gallery. This neighboring pavilion overlooking Princes Street, the fruit of the same architect, houses temporary exhibitions of Scottish artists, painting, sculpture, and also videos and installations. The permanent collection includes many works of the Academy's historical members, which is funded independently.

Once a town hall, a court, then a prison, Kirkcudbright's Tolbooth is now the artistic lung of this city so attached to culture. Several local artists are exhibited there, such as E.A. Hornel, Jessie M. King, E.A. Taylor, Charles Oppenheimer, or the watercolourists S.J. Peploe and David Gauld. The top floor hosts a revolving program of contemporary art and crafts from the region and around the world. Coffee, with its delicious pastries, is one of the assets of this unusual place.

Established in 1992, the CCA is the cultural and creative hub of the City of Glasgow. Six major exhibitions are held each year, promoting contemporary, national and international artists. The calendar also includes theatre, dance, film, visual arts, literature and many other artistic performances. The best thing to do is to check their website to see what's going on while you're there. There is a café on site, the Saramago.

Widely regarded as Charles Rennie Mackintosh's finest architectural achievement, the Glasgow School of Art was designed and built between 1896 and 1909. The building was unfortunately damaged by a fire in 2014 which led to major renovations that were initially scheduled to last until 2019.

Unfortunately, the Glasgow School of Art is no longer available to visit, following a new and much more serious fire in June 2018. Prior to this event, a one-hour tour was possible.

600 works of art by Scottish artists, from the 1880s to the present day, are stored in this gallery and are presented in its temporary exhibitions. There are of course paintings, especially by famous local watercolourists, but also sculptures and very contemporary works. Exhibitions vary regularly: the Scottish Boys, modern Scottish painting... Artists and craftsmen are also in the spotlight in the art centre's shop: a great idea to treat yourself to a unique souvenir! A café is also open on site.

It was Peter Brook who first drew attention to this warehouse, where the tramways of the agglomeration used to assemble. Its volume as an "industrial cathedral" made him want to put on a show on an equally daring scale, Mahabharata. In 1989, the British sculptor Andy Goldsworthy appropriated the site to create his installation Snowballs. Today, it produces both shows and temporary exhibitions. There is also a café and a charming garden.