Almost 300,000 visits were made to Aberdeen Archives, Art Gallery and Museums buildings in a year including for popular events such as an exhibition for the UK’s best-loved illustrator Quentin Blake, the 10th-century Book of Deer illuminated manuscript returning to the North East for the first time in a millennium, and The Galloway Hoard: Viking-Age Treasure.
The Finance and Resources Committee agreed the 2022-2023 annual report for the gallery, archive, and museums service which included 800+ new acquisitions, £48,031 raised from external funding bodies to support new acquisitions, and six new collection exhibitions.
The report said there were:
- 218,590 total admissions to Aberdeen Art Gallery;
- 50,364 total admissions to Aberdeen Maritime Museum (which was closed over winter for essential repairs);
- 29,264 total admissions to Provost Skene’s House;
- 371 Treasure Hub visitors;
- 1,036,542 virtual visits (including social media).
City Council Culture Spokesman Councillor Martin Greig said: “Local people can be proud of the wonderful art and museum collections that have been built up in the city over many generations.
“Our art gallery and archives contribute enormously to the cultural and economic wellbeing of the area and over the next 12 months, the changing programme of exhibitions and activities will continue to offer rich opportunities for the interest and enjoyment of visitors."
The report to committee gave details about the collection, loans and acquisitions, online access, cultural life, music sessions, lectures, festivals and events, access to all, volunteers, and the contribution to the local economy.
The city’s collection has grown over centuries, and has been shared with the public since 1885, first through the Aberdeen Art Gallery, then the wider museums and archives services at Aberdeen City & Aberdeenshire Archives, Maritime Museum, Treasure Hub, Provost Skene’s House, and the Tolbooth Museum (due to reopen after repair and refurbishment to the roof).
The collection shows the best of Aberdeen to the world while allowing people to explore, re-interpret, and using the collection helping them to explore the past, share the present and inspire the future
The purpose of the gallery, archive, and museums service is to care for and understand the collection, create opportunities for people to access the collection and venues, promote and enhance what’s on offer, become more resilient and sustainable, and ensure the collection is relevant and accessible to all.