A city student has become the 10,000th visitor to Aberdeen Art Gallery as the redeveloped venue continues to draw appreciative crowds during its opening week.
Jennifer Milne was presented with a gift by Gallery staff to mark the milestone when she arrived on Thursday (November 7) afternoon.
The 19-year-old, back home in Aberdeen to sample the Gallery during a break from business and marketing studies in Edinburgh, had the honour of VIP status when she became the 10,000th to visit since the doors opened to the public on Saturday (2 November).
Jennifer said: “I read so many good things about the Gallery on social media over the past week and thought it looked great. I really wanted to see it for myself and loved how light and airy it feels. The new terrace is fantastic too and the Forget Them Not commission in the Remembrance Hall is another highlight.”
Christine Rew, Aberdeen City Council’s Gallery and Museums manager, said: “It has been a pleasure to welcome Jennifer and every one of the thousands who have helped us celebrate the reopening week.
“The response from the public has been magnificent and the numbers have exceeded our expectations. We are preparing for another busy weekend and looking forward to many more visitors enjoying all that the Gallery has to offer.”
Aberdeen Art Gallery is home to one of the finest collections in the UK, including works by important Scottish artists, designers and makers such as Henry Raeburn, Joan Eardley, Samuel Peploe, Rachel McLean, Bill Gibb and James Cromar Watt, as well as nationally and internationally-acclaimed artists including Barbara Hepworth, Francis Bacon, Tracey Emin and Claude Monet.
The Aberdeen City Council redevelopment has dramatically increased the amount of display space for the nationally recognised collection, with the number of galleries increasing from 11 to 19, with a further three galleries presenting a programme of regularly changing special exhibitions. The number of items from the permanent collection on display has increased from 370 in 2015 to 1,080 in the redeveloped venue.
The £34.6m project includes investment in the fabric of the buildings including a re-imagined Remembrance Hall, refurbished Cowdray Hall, new exhibition and collection display galleries, improved visitor facilities and an enhanced activity programme.
The project’s major funders are the Council, which has pledged £14.6m from capital funds, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund with a £10m contribution. BP has donated £1m to the redevelopment project, with the BP Galleries to host three national and international exhibitions a year, and the UK Government awarded £1.5m from the HM Treasury Libor funds to support the major renovations in the Remembrance Hall.
The Gallery is open from 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 4pm. Admission is free. For further information visit www.aagm.co.uk .
