What's new at Aberdeen Archives, Gallery & Museums...
It’s the Easter holidays and Aberdeen Art Gallery, Aberdeen Maritime Museum and Provost Skene’s House are just a hop, skip and jump away! Whether you want to view a masterpiece, embark on a voyage or discover the locals who’ve helped transform the world, we’ve got you covered…and the best thing? Admission is free.
Don't miss our major exhibition ARTIST ROOMS Louise Bourgeois at Aberdeen Art Gallery! This is the only Scottish showing of work by French-American artist Louise Bourgeois, who is widely recognised as one of the most important and influential figures of modern and contemporary art.
Beat the holiday boredom
Stitching with the UFOs
Art Gallery (Learning Space)
Tuesday 2 April, 13:30 – 15:30
Free, no need to book
Come along and join in with the UFOs or Unfinished Objects group to take part in their latest stitching project designed especially for them by Andrew Crummy, creator of the Great Tapestry of Scotland.
Join in with the group work or bring your own unfinished small craft project and use the session to meet new people. Everyone welcome, no experience is required. Support and materials are provided.
Artroom with GHAT
Art Gallery (Learning Space)
Saturdays 6, 13, 20, 27 April, 10:30 – 12:30
We are delighted to partner with Grampian Hospital Arts Trust to bring Artroom to Aberdeen Art Gallery. Led by professional artists, these weekly sessions are person-centred and welcome adults of all abilities to experiment with art making in a variety of materials.
Baby Boogie
Art Gallery (Cowdray Hall)
Saturday 6 April, 10:30 – 12:00
£7 adult and child
£13 family (2 adults + up to 3 children)
For under 5s and their adults
Join DJ Nina for a fun-filled morning of sparkly dance tunes in the Cowdray Hall. A monthly daytime disco for little ones to enjoy with their adults! Coffee, cakes and juices are available to buy from the café.
Family ‘Transylvanian’ Ceilidh
Art Gallery (Cowdray Hall)
Saturday 13 April, 13:30 – 15:30
£10 adults
£5 children 16 and under
Celebrate International Roma Day with an exciting fusion of Scottish and Roma culture. Based around the ceilidh format we know and love, Roma musicians bring Transylvanian dancing and music to the Cowdray Hall. Even if you’re feeling a bit rusty, or you’ve never ‘ceilidhed’ before, our dance caller will help you find your feet.
Inspired Gallery Meets
Art Gallery (Learning Space)
Friday 19 April, 11:00 – 12:30
Free, no need to book
Creative Writing
Using the Louise Bourgeois sculpture exhibition as inspiration, you will be guided through a series of prompts and exercises to create writing that explores the themes of family, parents, and the self.
There is no pressure to create a polished piece or to be the next Poet Laureate – this session is a chance to engage with the sculptures and explore writing creatively.
We’d love to talk to you
The Aberdeen Shipmaster Society; Two Captains are pictured with the Votive Model ‘Schip’
Lunchtime Talk: Homosexuality in the Aberdeen press 1880–1930
Art Gallery (Seminar Room)
Wednesday 3 April
12:30 (45 mins), pay as you feel
Talk by Dr Michael Shaw, University of Stirling
In a period when homosexuality was described as the ‘love that dare not speak its name’, how did Aberdeen newspapers and magazines discuss homosexuality? This talk shows that the Aberdeen Press developed various strategies to represent homosexuality and compares Aberdonian publications with others throughout Scotland.
Guest @ Gray's: Gordon Burnett
Art Gallery (Cowdray Hall)
Friday 12 April, 15:00 (1hr)
Gordon Burnett was born in Fraserburgh and served an apprenticeship as a letter cutter at Aberdeen Granite Merchants William McKay & Sons. He studied jewellery and textiles at Gray’s School of Art – where he later taught - then at the Royal College of Art in London, graduating in 1980. His war memorial 'Forget Them Not' can be seen in the Remembrance Hall of Aberdeen Art Gallery. This sculpture, in the shape of a Spitfire wing, is made out of local granite.
Lunchtime Talk: ‘The Ship in the Kirk’ – Ship models in Aberdeen’s churches
Maritime Museum (Education Suite)
Wednesday 17 April
12:30 (45 mins), pay as you feel
Talk by Dr Meredith Greiling, Principal Curator of Technology, National Museums Scotland
Aberdeen has a rich tradition of displaying ship models in its churches. This talk explores the beautiful and charismatic models in our collections which have come from the city’s churches, revealing stories about their makers and their communities.
JJR Macleod and the wonder of insulin
Art Gallery (Cowdray Hall)
Saturday 20 April, 14:00 (1hr), free
Talk by Dr Martin Pucci
Dr Martin Pucci explores the fascinating story behind the purification of insulin and the life of its inventor, JJR Macleod. Macleod attended Aberdeen Grammar School and University of Aberdeen before travelling to work in London, Cleveland Ohio, and finally settling in Toronto. Macleod’s contributions to medicine have been celebrated in a new memorial in Duthie Park.
You can’t ‘beat’ our concerts
Lunchbreak Concerts
Art Gallery (Cowdray Hall)
Thursdays, 12:45 (45 mins), pay as you feel
We start the month with a performance of jazz, blues and ballads by duo Bailey and Black on 4 April with former Aberdeen City Music School pupil Daniel Toderas taking to the stage on 11 April. Quartet Malamatina will take you on a musical journey from the shores of Scotland to the vibrant rhythms of Spain on 18 April while Nova Quartet will feature Schubert’s Rosamunde on 25 April.
Classics @ the Cowdray
Art Gallery (Cowdray Hall)
Friday 12 April, 19:00 (1hr)
£14
Movie Classics @ the Cowdray
Experience all the glam and glitz of Hollywood as we celebrate some of the most iconic music from the movies. From James Bond to Chitty- Chitty Bang-Bang and from the joyfulness of Disney’s Frozen to the stillness of Hans Zimmer’s Interstellar and Inception, we take you on a journey from heartbreak to sunshine as we visit popular music from Schindler’s List to Toy Story. Sit back and enjoy the show!
Accessible events
Sanctuary Pendant, Phoebe Anna Traquair
Our Aberdeen
Treasure Hub (Activity Room)
Thursday 11 April, 14:00 – 15:30
Free, pay as you feel
We’ll be going behind the scenes at Aberdeen Treasure Hub to explore items made in Aberdeen, including garments from Crombie Mills and household ceramics from Seaton Pottery.
Art Gallery (Learning Space)
Thursday 25 April, 14:00 – 15:30
Free, pay as you feel
Get your hands-on history with one of our Treasure Boxes featuring a Victorian mourning brooch, an ear trumpet and an artwork by contemporary artist Christine Borland.
Musical Memories
Art Gallery (Cowdray Hall)
Fridays 5 and 19 April, 13:30 – 15:30
Free, pay as you feel
Musical Memories is a friendly singing group for people with dementia, their partners, families and friends. Established and delivered by a dedicated group of volunteers, these sessions support wellbeing, encouraging creativity and participation.
The series is supported by Alzheimer Scotland.
Visual Description Talk: Sanctuary Pendant
Art Gallery (G14)
Thursday 18 April, 15:00 (1hr)
Free, drop in
For blind or visually impaired visitors or for anyone who would like a ‘closer look’. Find out about Sanctuary Pendant made by Phoebe Anna Traquair, who was a trailblazer for female recognition in the arts and the first woman elected to the Royal Scottish Academy. This event will offer detailed description and historical insights.
New exhibitions for everyone to enjoy
Underfoot (detail) by Jack Dunnett © the artist
Gordon Contemporaries
27 April – 24 November
Art Gallery, free
The David and June Gordon Memorial Trust has been supporting the arts, community and youth organisations in the North East for nearly 50 years. The Trust also awards an annual prize to artists with local links whose work is selected for the RSA New Contemporaries exhibition in Edinburgh – a platform which supports and promotes emerging artists and architects in Scotland.
Our exhibition features recent work by a selection of the award-winning North East artists and provides an insight into their career paths and practice.
Presented in association with the David and June Gordon Memorial Trust and Haddo Arts. Supported by McInroy and Wood.
New Acquisitions
Continues until 22 December
Art Gallery, free
Every year new objects enter Aberdeen Archives, Gallery & Museums’ collection. Through a combination of gifts, bequests, donations and purchases we continue to breathe new life and meaning into the collection, guided by our Collection Development Policy. This display will be updated throughout the year to showcase new acquisitions entering the city’s collections.
To receive monthly Bulletin alerts from us please email info@aagm.co.uk.
