What's new at Aberdeen Archives, Gallery & Museums...
Welcome to our April bulletin - the sun is shining, spring flowers are blooming and as always we’ve got lots to tempt you with. Join us for an enlightening talk on Pearls – The Queen of the gem, bring along your personal treasures to our Public Valuation Day with Lyon & Turnbull, enjoy live music galore in Cowdray Hall and don’t forget, it’s your last chance to visit Artist Textiles: Picasso to Warhol before it closes on 13th April – you’d be a fool to miss it!
Please note: from 1 April, Provost Skene's House will open Thursdays to Mondays 10am-5pm (Sundays 11am-4pm). Admission is free.
Exhibitions and displays
Artist Textiles: Picasso to Warhol
Until 13 April 2025
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.
Tales from the Tall Ships
From 22 March
Aberdeen Maritime Museum
Free
The spectacular Tall Ships Races will visit Aberdeen for four days in July as part of this major international sailing event. The ships dock in Aberdeen from 19 to 22 July following a 430-mile nautical mile trip from Dunkirk. To celebrate the arrival of the fleet, this exhibition of paintings, ship models and photography highlights some of Aberdeen’s historic and cultural ties to these iconic, fast-sailing vessels, from shipyard construction to racing and competition.
Listen at lunchtime!
Lunchbreak Concerts
Thursdays, 12:45 (45 mins)
Art Gallery (Cowdray Hall)
Pay what you can to support our programme
Called “one of Scottish folk music’s timeless treasures” by Living Traditions, Christine Kydd entered the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame in 2018. Originally from Glasgow, she studied folklore at the Elphinstone Institute in Aberdeen and has a great love of the traditional songs of the North East. Christine’s engaging, inspiring and captivating performance is not to be missed.
10 April
Lunchbreak Concert: Brodie McCash
Pre-concert talk: 12:00
Relax and enjoy a musical journey with Brodie McCash as we explore seashore and seaport towns before diving in search of Lemuria: The Fallen Civilization. We will return to the seashore with some wistful memories before saying farewell. Works by Abe, Oetomo, Marján and more.
Join us for an inspiring performance by Big Noise Torry's advanced string ensemble. These talented young musicians, alongside their mentors, will present a varied and uplifting selection of music.
The University of Aberdeen Chamber Choir, conducted by Sam Paul, specialises in contemporary choral music, and in particular aims to champion compositions by current and former students of the university. The Choir is made up of students and recent alumni of the University.
Lunchtime Talks
Wednesdays, 12:30 (45 mins)
Pay what you can
2 April
Art Gallery (Seminar Room)
Lunchtime talk: Landscape photography - Picture place
Talk by Fergus Heron, artist and Senior Lecturer in Photography, School of Art and Media, University of Brighton
For the last six years, artist and photographer Fergus Heron has concentrated his field camera on a woodland near Nairn on the Moray coast. Fergus shares his inspiration for the project, including photographs and paintings in the Archives, Gallery & Museums collection and the writings of Nan Shepherd, as well has his working process which involves long-term observation of places close to where he lives, a view camera, available light and chromogenic printing.
16 April
Maritime Museum (Education Suite)
Lunchtime talk: Rockpool residents and coastal creatures of Aberdeen
Talk by Jack Elphinstone, Countryside Ranger, Aberdeen City Council
Life in a rockpool is extremely tough! Every day the changing tides bring new challenges for the creatures that live there. Despite the hardships, rocky shores and their surrounding coastal environments are teeming with life and are home to many remarkable species. Jack takes us beneath the waves and highlights some of the beautiful and bizarre animals that inhabit Aberdeen’s coastlines.
Music and dance
Baby Boogie
Saturday 5 April, 10.30am-12.00pm
Aberdeen Art Gallery
£8 (1 adult + 1 child)
£15 family (2 adults + up to 3 children)
Enjoy fun-filled morning of popular music with DJ Nina in the Cowdray Hall at our monthly daytime disco for little ones to enjoy with their adults! Coffees, cakes and juices are available to buy in the café to keep you well-fuelled and boogie-ing away.
Classics at the Cowdray
11 April, 19:00 – 20:00
Art Gallery (Cowdray Hall)
£16 / £12 concession / £35 season ticket
Musical Classics
With catchy melodies and showstopping ballads, peek behind the curtain as Nova Quartet brings the magic of the musicals to the Cowdray Hall. The programme includes favourites from 'An American in Paris', 'Funny Girl', 'Chicago', 'The Phantom of the Opera' and 'Les Misérables'.
Events and workshops
Family Fun: Wearable art with Lynsey Allan
9 April, 10:30 – 12:30
Art Gallery (Learning Space)
Free, drop in
Transform everyday items into wearable art using recycled materials and found objects. Join jeweller Lynsey Allan and create fun items of body adornment.
This is a drop-in session, children must be accompanied by an adult.
Suitable for children aged 6-11 years.
Talk: Pearls – The Queen of the gem
25 April, 19:00 – 20:00
Art Gallery (Cowdray Hall)
Pay what you can
Talk by Ruth Davis, Head of Jewellery, Lyon & Turnbull
Ruth Davis, Head of Jewellery for Lyon & Turnbull in Scotland, explores the history of the gemstone referred to by Grace Kelly as “the Queen of the gems and the gem of the Queens”. Discover the fascinating pat of this natural beautify, how it has secured its spot as a timeless favourite in our jewellery boxes and explore the significance of the Scottish pearl.
Public Valuation Day with Lyon & Turnbull
26 April, 11:00 – 16:00
Art Gallery (Cowdray Hall)
Pay what you can
Come and have your family treasures valued for free by experts from Lyon & Turnbull. Specialists from across their departments will be on hand to value a wide variety of hand-carry items including books, jewellery and paintings. Operating since 1826, Lyon & Turnbull is one of the longest-established fine art and antiques auction houses in the United Kingdom.
A maximum of three items per party please. Hand-carry items only.
Any advance item enquiries should be sent to info@lyonandturnbull.com.
Look after you wellbeing!
Stitching with the UFOs
1 April, 13:30 – 15:30
Art Gallery (Learning Space)
Pay what you can
UFO stands for Unfinished Objects! Come along to this monthly stitchers’ meet up and take part in their latest project. Collectively, the group has created some incredible pieces of work in the past, including a panel for the Great Tapestry of Scotland and kneelers for Westminster Abbey. Join in with the group work or bring your own unfinished small craft project and use this session to meet new people.
Our Aberdeen
3 April, 14:00 – 15:30
Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Pay what you can
Sickness and health
Get your hands on history with this eclectic collection of museum items and handle artwork by contemporary artist Christine Borland, an ear trumpet and a Victorian mourning brooch.
Musical Memories
4 & 18 April, 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.
Inspired Gallery Meets
18 April, 11:00 – 12:30
Art Gallery (Learning Space)
Pay what you can
Fly the flag for cross-stitch
Celebrate the cross-stitched samplers of yesteryear and join this beginner- friendly Inspired Gallery Meet to create your own embroidered flag. Take time to learn some easy stitches from mixed media artist Natalie Easton, or if you are a seasoned sewer come along and join the friendly session to sew with others. Choose the colour of your felt and thread, a letter or your favourite design and stitch away!
Artroom with GHAT
5, 12, 19 and 26 April, 10:30 – 12:30
Art Gallery (Learning Space)
Pay what you can
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.
