Top-15 art galleries in Newcastle

What is it?
A hub for the local arts community, offering a wide range of activities and events in the heart of Newcastle.

Why you should go?
The Newcastle Arts Centre, occupying an eclectic mix of restored historic buildings in the city center, is more than just a regular gallery space. Besides temporary exhibitions featuring the work of emerging and established artists, it hosts theatrical events, jazz jam sessions, film screenings, as well as various art classes and workshops. It offers a wealth of opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to engage with the arts and have fun, so do not miss your chance to get a taste of Newcastle's vibrant art scene.

What is it?
One of the largest commercial art, craft, and design galleries in the UK, housed in a former Victorian warehouse.

Why should you go?
This independent gallery, located in Newcastle's cultural quarter, is one of the city's hottest spots for contemporary art lovers. It runs four exhibitions a year, and each season you can see an impressive variety of fine art, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, and other works from over 200 artists. The beautifully restored Victorian building also houses a café with a rooftop terrace and fantastic views of the Ouseburn Valley. Best of all, admission to the gallery is always free.

What is it?
The oldest art gallery in Newcastle and home to an impressive collection of historical, modern, and contemporary art.

Why you should go?
The Laing Art Gallery is the ideal place to delve into the diverse world of British art. The permanent collection includes historic oil paintings and contemporary watercolors, dramatic landscapes by John Martin and abstract sculptures by Henry Moore and Anthony Caro, striking glassware, and fine pieces of Newcastle silver spanning 400 years. The gallery's building, designed in the Baroque style with Art Nouveau details, is a work of art in itself — and you can visit it for free.

What is it?
A relatively small free gallery showcasing the best local and international documentary photography.

Why should you go?
The charming Side Gallery, tucked away in a narrow cobblestone alley on Newcastle Quayside, is a bit of a hidden gem — and one of the best art galleries in Newcastle at the same time. It occupies three floors of a small former warehouse, with wooden beams and cast iron pillars. The gallery invites you to look at some of the most challenging, powerful, and impactful examples of humanist documentary photography. There is also a lovely bookshop on the first floor, where you can buy beautiful magazines and albums.

What is it?
A printmaking studio and gallery that promotes printmaking as an art form and supports artists working in the field.

Why should you go?
Based in Newcastle's cultural quarter of Ouseburn Valley, Northern Print is an integral part of the art landscape of the city and North East England. This open-access print studio offers a range of courses and workshops, and its gallery space regularly hosts exhibitions of unique prints by a range of mediums, from book illustrations to luxury food packaging. Go there to see the very best in contemporary printmaking — and, perhaps, choose something to buy and take home.

What is it?
An art & design gallery focusing exclusively on the work of artists from the North East.

Why should you go?
North East Art Collective, situated on the upper level of Eldon Garden Shopping Centre, is the place where you can see as much local talent as possible. The gallery, filled from floor to ceiling, demonstrates and sells the work of over 150 of the North East's gifted artists and designers. This venue showcases art in all media, from oil and watercolor to photography, textiles, and bespoke furniture. The gallery refreshes its stock on a weekly basis, so there is always something new on display.

What is it?
Newcastle University's art gallery, featuring over 3,500 works from the 14th century to the present day.

Why should you go?
The Hatton Gallery, founded in 1925, is one of the best galleries in Newcastle, boasting works by many notable artists, such as Francis Bacon and Richard Hamilton. The gallery's particular focus is on British art of the 20th century, but you can admire a much wider range of works, including pieces by Italian Renaissance masters. In addition to its permanent collection, the gallery also hosts temporary exhibitions displaying the work of both established and emerging artists.

What is it?
A major international center for contemporary art, housed in a landmark industrial building in Gateshead.

Why should you go?
The Baltic, with its ever-changing calendar of exhibitions and events, is considered one of the UK's most important contemporary art institutions. This center, housed in a former flour mill on the south bank of the River Tyne, showcases the work of artists from all around the world, from paintings and sculptures to videos and performances. If you are not into contemporary art, go there to enjoy spectacular views of the river, the city, and the Millennium Bridge from the observation deck on the 5th level of the building.

What is it?
A contemporary art gallery showcasing the work of emerging and established artists from the UK and around the world.

Why should you go?
Vane Gallery, situated in a converted industrial space close to the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, represents a group of critically engaged artists from the North East of England, across the UK, Europe, and the USA. The exhibitions, taking place throughout the year, feature a wide range of media, including painting, photography, and installation art. Vane also offers workshops, talks, and guided tours and often collaborates with other galleries to show the works of specially invited guest artists.

What is it?
A studio of painter Jim Edwards with a gallery space showcasing his latest paintings and prints.

Why should you go?
Jim Edwards is famous for his contemporary cityscapes and abstract paintings inspired by iconic North East buildings and bridges. That's why his studio, combined with an exhibitions space, is one of the must-visit art galleries in Newcastle. Go there to explore the unique creative environment, admire colorful and beautiful depictions of iconic North East locations, and meet the painter himself, who will help you get an insight into his art practice.

What is it?
A fine art gallery specializing in contemporary artwork by celebrated national and international artists.

Why should you go?
The Hancock Gallery, ideally nestled in the heart of the city, occupies three floors of a stunning Georgian townhouse on one of Newcastle's most picturesque residential streets. It is worth a visit if only for its location, but the gallery has a lot to show. Its vast and varied collection contains the work of leading contemporary and 20th-century artists from the UK and beyond. You can see almost everything, from oil paintings to limited-edition prints and from traditional landscapes to abstract and figurative art pieces.

What is it?
The resident art gallery of Northumbria University, focusing on both home-grown talent and renowned international artists.

Why should you go?
The gallery, located on the ground of Northumbria University in Newcastle, is an exhibition space as well as a research hub promoting experimentation and collaboration in the field of cutting-edge contemporary art and design. Every year, the gallery hosts a diverse range of events, including workshops, public talks, and, of course, various exhibitions. It gives you a chance to discover extremely gifted emerging artists and admire the work of big art-world names.

What is it?
A creative workspace for artists and innovators and a gallery showcasing talent from the city, region, and beyond.

Why should you go?
High Bridge Works is a big art hub in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne. The building houses 36 studios for visual artists and creative businesses and an impressive top-floor gallery designed by leading European gallery architects and now known as Newcastle Contemporary Art. It hosts various exhibitions featuring some of the most talented creators currently working in the North East of England, as well as retrospective shows celebrating the work of renowned artists.

What is it?
A contemporary art hub housed in a specially refurbished Methodist Church.

Why should you go?
Shieldfield Art Works (SAW) is a creative space aiming to explore contemporary art, theological reflection, and community activism. The gallery, known for its innovative and socially conscious approach to art, works with people of all faith and none and runs a great range of exhibitions with artists from all over the world. It also offers numerous workshops, craft activities, and thought-provoking events exploring the themes of exhibits in more depth and invites everyone to its charming community garden.

What is it?
A gallery in Gateshead housing one of the UK's best collections of contemporary craft and vintage glassware.

Why should you go?
Shipley Art Gallery, situated across the river from Newcastle, is known as a national center for contemporary craft. It houses a fantastic collection of ceramics, glass, wood, metal, textiles, and furniture, as well as one of the finest provincial collections of Dutch and Flemish 16th and 17th-century paintings in the UK. Go there to see the works of Jan van der Heyden and Benjamin Cuyp, admire 19th-century British landscapes, and delve into the world of Sowerby's and Davidson's glassware.