City Art Centre to re-open to the public with new exhibitions
The City Art Centre will reopen its doors on Saturday September 12 with new new exhibitions.
City Art Centre at 40: Highlights from the City’s Art Collection will mark the centre’s 40th anniversary, along with Bright Shadows: Scottish Art in the 1920s.
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Hide AdThe centre has introduced a range of Covid-19 safety measures including a one-way system, screens at reception, hand sanitiser stations, and extra barriers and signage.
Visitors are asked to wear face coverings and book free tickets in advance for allocated time slots at www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk.
Bright Shadows: Scottish Art in the 1920s is a new exhibition exploring the work of Scottish artists during the 1920s – an evocative period of social, political and economic change.
City Art Centre at 40: Highlights from the City’s art collection will showcase major Scottish works from the centre’s 5,000-piece collection.
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Hide AdArtworks range from some of the earliest views of the city to pieces from major contemporary artists.
Visitors will be able to see artworks by major historical figures such as Allan Ramsay, the pioneer photographers Hill and Adamson, and the Scottish Colourists, as well as contemporaries such as John Byrne, Alison Watt and Adrian Wiszniewski.
The centre was opened on August 15, 1980.
It moved from its original location at the Royal High School on Regent Road to make way for the intended Scottish Assembly after devolution, and found a new home in in a purposefully refurbished five storey warehouse dating back to 1899 on Market Street.
The building, which had once housed fruit markets, was designed as an extension to The Scotsman building on North Bridge.
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Hide AdIt was chosen for both its architectural significance and its wrought iron framed structure, which could support the heavy floor loads required to house large volumes of visitors.
David Patterson, Curatorial and Conservation Manager said: “We are thrilled to be reopening on the 12th September, and fittingly with two exhibitions drawn from our Scottish art collection.
"In the months and years to come, we’ll continue to shine the spotlight on Scottish artists of the past who have been overlooked in the story of Scottish art as well as curate major displays by some of the country’s leading artists past and present.
"The topography and people of Edinburgh will remain a consistent strand in our programming, as will the display of the finest contemporary and historic applied art and craft.
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Hide Ad"We’ll continue to work with our partners Edinburgh Science Festival to bring some of the best Science and Art to a family audience, and our wonderful collection will continue to be shown throughout the year in a series of temporary exhibitions.”
Councillor Donald Wilson, Culture and Communities Convener said: “Over the last 40 years our City Art Centre has hosted more than 500 exhibitions, housed works from across the globe and welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors.
"As we celebrate this milestone it’s a great opportunity to look back at our favourites over the years as well as look ahead to reopening our doors on September 12.”