The Baltic Center for Contemporary Art, Newcastle

...and I went down to the Baltic Art Gallery on the south banks of the river Tyne for a bit of a cultural visit. I had been before, as I live locally, but it was a first for my vaguely sceptical bloke.

For anyone who doesn't know already, Baltic is a relatively new Art Gallery, known fondly by locals as Tate on Tyne, and housed in a former flour mill that has stood empty for years and years, home only to seagulls and pigeons before renovation ...
...now.

The idea for the Baltic began back in 1991 when Northern Arts announced very publicly that it wanted to change the face of Tyneside, breathing new life into an idea that Newcastle was a vibrant city, full of artist possibilities and as contemporary and "modern" as any southern city.

Work began in 1998 to transform the old 1950's flour mill- I was in college then, and missed much of the re-design work on ... more

*****The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art*****

On Saturday last week, my boyfriend and I went down to the Baltic Art Gallery on the south banks of the river Tyne for a bit of a cultural visit. I had been before, as I live locally, but it was a first for my vaguely sceptical bloke.

For anyone who doesn't know already, Baltic is a relatively new Art Gallery, known fondly by locals as Tate on Tyne, and housed in a former flour mill that has stood empty for years and years, home only to seagulls and pigeons before renovation completely transformed it into the beautiful art space it is now.

The idea for the Baltic began back in 1991 when Northern Arts announced very publicly that it wanted to change the face of Tyneside, breathing new life into an idea that Newcastle was a vibrant city, full of artist possibilities and as contemporary and "modern" as any southern city.

Work began in 1998 to transform the old 1950's flour mill- I was in college then, and missed much of the re-design work on the empty shell of the building, but remember news clips when I was home for holidays, and it always made me feel proud to belong to a city which could do such new and innovative stuff with a dodgy old industrial building.

The Baltic has six main floors, and three mezzanines, a shop, a library and archive for studying contemporary art, artists' studios, a cinema/lecture space, a café/bar, and a Rooftop Restaurant.

It was opened on Saturday 13th July 2002, and if I remember it was very late at night - the inaugural exhibition was entitled B.OPEN, included work by major artists, including Jane and Louise Wilson, and brought in over 35,000 people in the first week alone.

There is no permanent collection at The Baltic, but in my opinion, this adds something to the space, because every time you go there, you are seeing something else merging with the space, and it also gives you a reason to keep going back. To see more.

It is almost a reflection of life, every moving, ever shifting, ever changing. One thing evolving into the next. And there is a beauty to that ideology which certainly doesn't escape me.

The Baltic is the biggest gallery of its kind in the world, and from the outside you wouldn't think it. It looks like a square box, perched on the banks of the river, and waiting for something. You walk through the glass fronted entrance and it's almost Tardis-like. Suddenly light envelopes you, the air is cool, the sense of space huge.

Everything in the design of the building, from the architecture to the specifications for glass lifts, open plan spaces, viewing platforms - it has all been designed very carefully to increase the sense of space, and to involve the spectator with not only the view inside, but the one outside too.

Metaphorical perhaps, or simply just good architecture, I don't know, but it's a place that makes you think, and not just about art!

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*****The Exhibitions*****

On this visit, we went primarily to see Sam Taylor-Wood's Still Lives exhibition, which was showing at The Baltic until 3rd September. Taylor-Wood is a leading artist in the world of photography, and is most famous for filming David Beckham sleeping. This was one of the exhibits, and I must say, it was the one exhibit which I didn't care much for. The wall of crying men (photographs of famous men, crying) was far more moving, and could be applauded for its technical brilliance. The exhibition was all about fragility, the strength and weakness of the human body, and a reflection almost on life and death and life passing by. I really enjoyed it, and my boyfriend, who had been rather dubious at the whole notion of "modern art" enjoyed much of it too, though there were some exhibits which he thought contrived and ridiculous. In all I loved this exhibition, and if it was still there I would go again - I can thoroughly recommend it as an introduction to the artists' work.

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*****Facilities*****

There are lots of facilities including a cloakroom, lockers for luggage, toilets on all floors, including those for people who find access difficult, or who use a wheelchair. There are baby-changing facilities and seating areas for anyone who needs a quiet sit between exhibits.

There is a viewing platform on the top floor which gives amazing views up the Tyne, taking in all of the bridges, and enabling you to see all the way up to St James Park, The Monument, and as far as Wylam on a clear day. A great place for taking photographs!

There is a restraint on the top floor, reservations should be made first. A café bar on the ground floor serves light snack and beverages and is not overly expensive for tea, coffee and the like. £5.00 will get you a couple of drinks, but snack are a little more expensive.

The shop is a brilliant collection of funky art world junk and Baltic pencils and pens, all the stuff you would expect from a gallery shop. There are prints to buy, books to peruse and you'll probably spent as much time here as you do in the gallery space.

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*****Getting There*****

Getting there is easy as pie. If you are coming into Newcastle on a train or Metro, get off at Central Station and follow the signs for the Quay-side. It will talk about 15 minutes at a slow wandering pace to get to the banks of the river Tyne. Once you're on the waterfront however, you really can't miss it - cross the Blinking Eye Millennium bridge and the Baltic is right in front of you. If you don't want to walk then Newcastle has some fancy new Electric Buses which are there to help reduce pollution. You can pick one up from Grey Street, or Central Station, and it will cost around £1.50 to get down to the waterside. Well worth it, especially if it's raining!

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*****Opening Times*****

Baltic is open every day of the week. Last entrance is 15 minutes before the building is due to close.

Monday to Sunday 10:00 till 18:00
Wednesday 10:00 till 20:00

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*****Cost*****

There is no charge to gain entrance to The Baltic, however there is a donation system, where visitors are asked to give a donation (minimum suggested is £2.00), which can be put in a swirly-whirly pod in the entrance foyer.

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*****What I Think*****

If you live anywhere near Newcastle and you've not already been, get yourself down there. It's a beautiful space, it's a very calming, insightful experience, and you're bound by the laws of nature and art to see at least one thing you genuinely like there. I love going down to the Baltic, drinking in other peoples' inspiration, seeing a tiny slice of their lives and gaining a small understanding of what makes them tick.
If you don't live near Newcastle, come visit us. We don't bite, and you'll have the time of your life!

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*****For More Information*****

BALTIC CENTRE FOR CONTEMPORARY ART
Gateshead Quays
South Shore
Gateshead
NE8 3BA

Tel: +44 (0) 191 4781810
Fax: +44 (0) 191 4781922
Textphone: +44 (0) 191 440 4944

www.balticmill.com

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Thank you very much for reading, Kate x  

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