What's new at Aberdeen Archives, Gallery & Museums...
It’s a new month and the arrival of November marks 5 years since the Art Gallery re-opened following its major refurbishment. Over the last five years we’ve welcomed over 820,000 visitors, displayed thousands of objects from our collection, shown over 35 special and temporary exhibitions and been named joint winner of the Art Fund Museum of the Year 2020! Thank you for supporting us and being part of our story.
As always, we’ve got lots to see and do! This month we invite you to start your Christmas shopping early at the Tea Green Festive Market (be sure to visit the Gallery shops while you’re there), take a peek behind the scenes at the Aberdeen Treasure Hub Open Day, be entertained at one of our many concerts or immerse yourself in our brand new exhibition – Artist Textiles: Picasso to Warhol. We’ve got something for everyone to enjoy!
Exhibitions and displays
Image: Heriot Valley, Sir William Gillies, Pre 1964 (detail) © The Artist. All Rights Reserved 2023 / Bridgeman Images
Artist Textiles: Picasso to Warhol
Opening 23 November
Art Gallery
Adults £10 / Concessions £7
Exhibition Pass £14 / Children 12 and under free
This captivating exhibition arrives in Aberdeen following a major international tour. Tracing the history of 20th-century art in textiles, it explores how people were once able to engage with modern art in a personal way through their clothing and home furnishings. Artist Textiles: Picasso to Warhol showcases examples of key European and American art movements including Fauvism, Cubism, Constructivism, Abstraction, Surrealism and Pop Art, as well as the work of leading fashion designers and manufacturers. Highlights include work by George Braque, Alexander Calder, Marc Chagall, Salvador Dalí, Sonia Delaunay, Raoul Dufy, Barbara Hepworth, Fernand Léger, Henri Matisse, Joan Miró, Henry Moore, Pablo Picasso, Ben Nicholson and Andy Warhol. The Aberdeen exhibition also features a selection of works by contemporary artists and designers such us Zandra Rhodes, Damien Hirst, Valentino and Howard Hodgkin.
Gordon Contemporaries
Until 24 November
Art Gallery, Free
This exhibition brings together works produced in the last year by 18 artists with strong North East connections. They are all previous winners of The David and June Gordon Memorial Trust Award at the Royal Scottish Academy New Contemporaries exhibition in Edinburgh. Now in its 15th year, this important annual exhibition is selected from the degree shows at the five main colleges of art and schools of architecture in Scotland, including Gray’s School of Art and the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture in Aberdeen.
The exhibition is presented in association with The David and June Gordon Memorial Trust and Haddo Arts. It is supported by McInroy & Wood, Personal Investment Managers.
Sir William Gillies and the Scottish Landscape
Until 1 December
Art Gallery, Free
An exhibition celebrating Scottish artist Sir William Gillies (1898-1973) and his colourful depictions of Scotland’s rural landscape.
The display showcases a rich selection of oil and watercolour paintings in the Archives, Gallery & Museums’ collection which depict rolling countryside, trees and coastal scenes. Gillies was a lover of nature; his oil paintings were created in his studio but he was never happier than when outdoors with his watercolour palette capturing the beauty of Scotland’s countryside.
Imagined Norths
Opening 11 November
Sir Duncan Rice Library, University of Aberdeen
Free
How did the North Sea’s monsters go extinct? Where have Scotland’s fairies gone? What happened to the psychic powers of the Highlanders? This exhibition curated by University of Aberdeen Collections showcases rare books and museum items to investigate myths, misconceptions and fantasies of ‘the North’, and how these have been dispelled or transformed.
Find out more about Monsters of the Deep in Aberdeen Art Gallery’s major exhibition exploring the impact of deep sea exploration – opening at Aberdeen Art Gallery in May 2025.
Listen at lunchtime!
Lunchbreak Concerts
Thursdays, 12:45 (45 mins)
Art Gallery (Cowdray Hall)
Pay as you feel to support our programme
Chaos Quartet
7 November (1hr)
Founded in 2019, the Chaos String Quartet combines a highly-refined ensemble culture with fiery vitality. The quartet has been successful at the most prestigious international competitions and is a BBC Radio 3 'New Generation Artist'.
The concert will be recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 3 as part of their New Generation Artists programme.
North East of Scotland Music School
14 November
There will be something to suit everyone as students from the North East of Scotland Music School perform a varied programme of music from across the ages.
Aberdeen City Music Service
21 November
Aberdeen City Music Service presents performances by children and young people receiving music instruction in Aberdeen City Council schools. The programme includes performances by children of a range of ages playing varied instruments.
Ryan Corbett & Geneva Lewis
28 November (1hr)
Accordionist Ryan Corbett joins violinist Geneva Lewis for a recital of music by Bach, Piazzolla and Tchaikovsky. These two award-winning artists are currently BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists and have been described respectively as “one of the most astonishing newcomers in Scottish music” and as having “remarkable mastery of her instrument”.
The concert will be recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 3 as part of their New Generation Artists programme.
Lunchtime Talks
Wednesdays, 12.30 (45 mins)
Pay as you feel to support our programme
Forgotten heroines: Lady Haig, the Scottish Poppy and supporting disabled veterans
6 November
Art Gallery (Seminar Room)
Talk by Dr Natasha Danilova, Senior Lecturer, University of Aberdeen
Who created the Scottish remembrance poppy and why? In the aftermath of the First World War, what role did women play in facilitating support for veterans with disabilities. Lady Haig was a passionate woman who had advocated for the expansion of support of disabled veterans in Scotland. But it also a story of the upper-class, highly educated woman, a daughter of the diplomat, a Maid of Honour to Queen Alexandra and a wife of Field-Marshall Douglas Haig, whose exceptional, privileged position in the society proved to be not enough to overcome gender stereotypes and prejudice, and whose life-time work remains mostly written off from the pages of Scottish history. This talk results from the research project supported by the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland. It brings forth findings from the previously unknown archival personal records, held at the National Library of Scotland, conversations with Lady Haig’s family members, visits to the Lady Haig Poppy Factory in Edinburgh, National Museum of Scotland, and The Royal British Legion (Scotland).
A journey through time using 3D photogrammetry
20 November
Maritime Museum (Education Suite)
Talk by Douglas Ledingham, Amateur 3D Modeller
As technology develops, 3D modelling has begun to play an important role in documenting our rich history. From Pictish stones to historic castles join Douglas as he shares what he’s discovered through creating 3D models of some of Scotland’s most ancient artefacts.
Music and dance
Baby Boogie
2 November, 10:30 – 12:00
Art Gallery (Cowdray Hall)
£8 / £15
Fed up with repeating the same old nursery rhymes? Try our monthly daytime disco for little ones to enjoy with their adults! Boogie on down for a fun-filled morning of popular music with DJ Nina in the Cowdray Hall. Coffee, cakes and juices are available to buy from the café.
One Great Circle
17 November, 14:00 – 15:30
Art Gallery (Cowdray Hall)
£16 / Concession £12
Three of Scotland’s finest traditional musicians present a musical tribute to Stanley Robertson, the late Aberdeenshire storyteller, piper, singer, author and member of the Travelling community. One Great Circle was composed by Fraser Fifield in his role as Traditional Artist in Residence for the University of Edinburgh. Fraser plays low whistle / smallpipes and is joined by the the acclaimed fiddle/harp duo, Chris Stout and Catriona McKay, who are well known for virtuosic, explorative performances.
One Great Circle has been described by Songlines magazine as “dazzling and exquisite” and by BrightYoungFolk as “Delicate and expressive, adventurous and refined”.
Parisienne by Eloïse Bella Kohn
27 November, 19:30 – 21:30
Art Gallery (Cowdray Hall)
£16 / Concession £12
Launching her new album, Parisienne, to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Maurice Ravel, pianist Eloïse Bella Kohn presents a concert exploring the inspirations of the celebrated French composer. With works by Schubert and Ravel the programme highlights some of the formative influences on Ravel’s most acclaimed works.
Presented in association with the Institut Français d’Écosse.
Festive Music Pop-ups
30 November, 12:30 – 13:00 / 14:30 – 15:00
Art Gallery
Albacapella
The Art Gallery is the perfect location to escape the hustle and bustle and soak up some culture this winter. We’ll be joined by a local choir every Saturday afternoon in the lead-up to Christmas, performing both traditional Christmas carols and all your festive favourites.
Family Ceilidh with Danse McCabre
30 November, 13:30 – 15:30
Art Gallery (Cowdray Hall)
£12 adults
£6 children 16 and under
Join the pink-kilted ladies for a family-friendly celebration of Scottish music and dancing to the max! Described as ‘fantastic’ by Real Weddings Magazine, Danse McCabre have built an enviable reputation as THE all-women ceilidh band in the North of Scotland. Formed in 2003, their repertoire mixes old favourites with less familiar dances, all performed in an eclectic lively style. If you’re new to ceilidh, or feeling a bit rusty, you’ll be guided through each dance by the band’s Caller and Demonstrators.
Give your wellbeing a boost!
Musical Memories
1, 15, 29 November, 13:30 – 15:30
Art Gallery (Cowdray Hall)
Pay what you can
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 and improve brain activity, encouraging creativity and participation.
The series is supported by Alzheimer Scotland.
Stitching with the UFOs
5 November, 14:00 – 16:00
Art Gallery (Learning Space)
Pay what you can
Join in with the Unfinished Objects Group, affectionately known as the UFOs or, 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 this session to meet new people.
Everyone welcome, no experience is needed. Support and materials are provided.
Our Aberdeen
7 November, 14:00 – 15:30
Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Pay what you can
Aberdeen Greats
Discover the famous sons and daughters of the granite city and handle real museum objects associated with them including drawings by fashion designer Bill Gibb and a hip flask which belonged to John Brown, Queen Victoria’s famed highland servant.
Inspired Gallery Meets
29 November, 11:00 – 12:30
Art Gallery (Learning Space)
Pay what you can
Sketching
Using the Art Gallery collections as inspiration, jeweller Lynsey Allan will show you how to use sketching to gather and formulate design ideas, focusing on pattern, mark making and tonal work.
Artroom with GHAT
3, 10, 17, 24 November
Art Gallery (Learning Space)
Free, drop in
We are delighted to partner with Grampian Hospitals Art 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.
Support us and volunteer!
Are you interested in art and history? Share your ideas, experiences or just your time and make a real difference to Aberdeen Archives, Gallery & Museums.
Volunteers are involved throughout our Gallery and Museums and provide both public facing and behind-the-scenes support. Their commitment and dedication help us to research, interpret and care for our culturally important collection.
We welcome anyone who is over 18 and has the right to work in the UK as a volunteer. All we ask for is enthusiasm and an interest in the work of Aberdeen Archives, Gallery and Museums, our city, and its heritage.
Our volunteers work in collections care, event support, administration, visitor experience and on special projects. No experience is necessary as we provide training for each volunteer role, so you will always feel comfortable and confident when you volunteer with us.
Join our volunteer mailing list to receive regular emails about upcoming volunteer opportunities. Download our Volunteering Mailing Form and send your completed form to: aagmvolunteers@aberdeencity.gov.uk
To receive monthly Bulletin alerts from us please email info@aagm.co.uk.
