Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is a fantastic visitor attraction. It is located in the picturesque Kelvin Park on Argyle Street in the West End of Glasgow. Open every day from 10AM to 5PM (11-5 on a Sunday) Kelvingrove is free to enter and there is plenty to see and do for people of all ages and interests.
The building itself was designed as part of the International Exhibition in 1901 and it was completely refurbished just a few years ago at a cost of around £30 million. The Queen re-opened it in 2006 and it attracts an impressive number of visitors every year, well over 1 million.
There are various things to see at Kelvingrove and while entry to the main building is free there are often special exhibitions which have an entry fee associated. However the free exhibitions are varied and this is one of the best civic collections in Europe. There are archaeology exhibits, natural world exhibits, armour and weaponry and a huge collection of fine art. There is also a great café and a shop which stocks all sorts of weird and wonderful things.
The main draw to Kelvingrove is the art collection which includes works by Monet, Degas, Rubens, Van Gogh, Matisse, Courbet, Pisarro and Whistler. They also have the dramatic Christ of Saint John of the Cross by Salvador Dali. In addition to the old masters, the French impressionists and the Dutch renaissance there are works by Scottish artists like Allan Ramsay, Horatio McCulloch and Francis Cadell.
Kelvingrove is home to such a varied collection that there is something to spark any interest. To give an idea of the scope I should mention there are also objects from Ancient Egypt, works by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Bronze age burial artefacts, prehistoric fossils, stuffed animals and renaissance fencing manuals. The displays are suitable for various ages and there are interactive galleries which children particularly enjoy. These interactive exhibits encourage handling and discussion of the objects and the varied approach is designed to appeal to all kinds of people. After all we each learn in a different way.
Many of the exhibits tell a story about life in Scotland or further a field. It is a truly eclectic mix of interesting things to see and do. There are also frequently changing special exhibitions, for example starting this month there is a Doctor Who exhibition which provides fans with a chance to see props and costumes from the show.
The building itself is a work of art and a perfect example of Victorian architecture. The original features have been retained and restored but with modern amenities added to the interior for the best of both worlds. One of the huge halls has a spitfire aeroplane hanging from the ceiling which gives you some idea of the scale.
Kelvingrove is popular with Scots and tourists alike and if you visit Glasgow you should make sure you check it out. It is easy to get to by bus or underground and a recent global survey of museums and art galleries placed it 14th ahead of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
