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Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art

Art galleries ·Gateshead ·Closed
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About

Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art is a gallery in a converted flour mill on the River Tyne’s south bank in Gateshead, at the south end of Gateshead Millennium Bridge.

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Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art — The Baltic Centre entrance plaza and full brick facade Steve Daniels · CC BY-SA 2.0 · edited
Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art — The Baltic Centre entrance plaza and full brick facadeBaltic Centre for Contemporary Art — The Baltic Centre's brick riverside facade viewed from an angleBaltic Centre for Contemporary Art — The Baltic Centre's broad brick facade beside the River TyneBaltic Centre for Contemporary Art — The Baltic Centre's western facade and entrance from the plazaBaltic Centre for Contemporary Art — The Baltic Centre beside the river, seen over a bridge railingBaltic Centre for Contemporary Art — The Baltic Centre across the river with its waterfront settingBaltic Centre for Contemporary Art — The Baltic Centre's broad riverside wall with a large exhibition bannerBaltic Centre for Contemporary Art — The Baltic Centre's riverside facade with a banner above the waterBaltic Centre for Contemporary Art — An angled close view of the Baltic Centre's brick and glass facadeBaltic Centre for Contemporary Art — The Baltic Centre's side facade and exhibition banner in deep shadeBaltic Centre for Contemporary Art — The Baltic Centre across the river with the curved bridge railing

What's on here

Baltic Cinema: Panelstory, or How a Housing Development is Born Baltic Cinema: Panelstory, or How a Housing Development is Born Thursday, 18:305.40 GBP Newcastle United Textiles Upcycling Workshop Newcastle United Textiles Upcycling Workshop Saturday, 10:00Free Baltic Cinema: Faces Places Baltic Cinema: Faces Places Thursday, 18:305.40 GBP Festive Rooftop Afternoon Tea Festive Rooftop Afternoon Tea 28 Nov – 31 Dec28 GBP Baltic Cinema: The Nothing Factory Baltic Cinema: The Nothing Factory Saturday, 14:305.40 GBP Baltic Cinema: Other Actors (Jarman Award 2026) Baltic Cinema: Other Actors (Jarman Award 2026) Thursday, 18:305.40 GBP Baltic Cinema | Tish with Paul Sng & Jen Corcoran + Curator Tour Baltic Cinema | Tish with Paul Sng & Jen Corcoran + Curator Tour Saturday, 14:0011.29 GBP Baltic Cinema: Play for Today: United Kingdom Baltic Cinema: Play for Today: United Kingdom Saturday, 15:005.40 GBP Show more

Why go

  • Four floors of changing contemporary art exhibitions.
  • Two viewing decks overlooking the River Tyne.
  • Free entry to exhibitions.

Opening hours

Today10:00 – 18:00, 10:00 – 18:00Show all
MondayClosed
TuesdayClosed
Wednesday10:00 – 18:00, 10:00 – 18:00
Thursday10:00 – 18:00, 10:00 – 18:00
Friday10:00 – 18:00, 10:00 – 18:00
Saturday10:00 – 18:00, 10:00 – 18:00
Sunday10:00 – 18:00, 10:00 – 18:00

Don't miss

  • Heaven and HellOne of Baltic’s few permanent artworks.Main stairwell
  • KittiwakesWatch kittiwakes raising their young on the mill’s cliff-like walls.Building exteriorMay–September

What's inside

  • The building has six floors to explore overall.
  • Glass elevators overlook Newcastle, Gateshead and the River Tyne.
  • Glazed east and west sides bring daylight and river views into the building.
  • Events, educational programmes and activities accompany the art.
  • A shop, library and visitor centre.

Tips for your visit

  • For refreshments, Baltic has a café; the Six Rooftop Restaurant is permanently closed.
  • Use Baltic’s visual story guides to prepare for the building and exhibitions.
  • Exhibition entry is free.

Interesting facts4

1/4

  1. A 1,000-tonne steel frame supports the brick façades after the grain silos were removed.

    Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art - Wikipedia

  2. The original north and south elevations, lettering, and red and yellow bricks were retained.

    Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art - Wikipedia

  3. The conversion introduced four main floors and removable intermediate floors to make adaptable art spaces.

    Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art - Wikipedia
  4. 42 metres

    The building is 42 metres (138 feet) tall.

    Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art - Wikipedia

Shorts

History

The opening exhibition, B.OPEN, included Jaume Plensa’s playable gongs and a beam of light reaching about two kilometres into the sky. Chris Burden made a one-twentieth-scale Meccano replica of the Tyne Bridge. These were works in the 2002 exhibition. Later exhibitions included the largest survey of Beryl Cook’s work held up to that point in 2007 and the first major retrospective of Judy Chicago’s work in 2019–2020.

  1. Late-1930s designGelder and Kitchen designed the flour mill built for Joseph Rank of Rank Hovis.
  2. 1950After construction paused during the Second World War, the mill began operating.
  3. 1957Blue Cross Mill was added to process animal feed.
  4. 1976–1984A fire closed the mills in 1976. The silos continued to store grain until 1984.
  5. 1994Gateshead Council bought the silo building and invited RIBA to run a design competition. Dominic Williams of Ellis Williams Architects won.
Show all
  1. 1999Anish Kapoor’s 50-metre PVC installation Taratantara drew 16,000 visitors and marked the mill’s change into an art centre.
  2. 13 July 2002The gallery opened at midnight after ten years of planning.
  3. 2011Baltic hosted the first Turner Prize exhibition outside Tate’s London and Liverpool venues.
  4. 2016Baltic launched an international emerging-artist award. Four recipients each received a £30,000 commission and exhibition; it was the UK’s first competition judged entirely by artists.
  5. 2021Baltic Open Submission showed lockdown-era work by 158 North East artists selected from more than 540 submissions.

How to get there

  • 10 minOn footWalk from Gateshead Town Centre in 10–15 minutes. What3words location: youth.atoms.teeth.
  • 15 minOn footWalk from Newcastle city centre or its train station in 15–20 minutes.
  • On footPedestrians can reach the centre from Newcastle Quayside via Gateshead Millennium Bridge.

Accessibility

  • The centre is wheelchair accessible
  • A sensory room is available

Sources: Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art - Wikipedia · Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art - Wikipedia … · Gateshead - Wikivoyage (see) · Welcome to Baltic | Baltic Centre for Contempor… · Plan Your Visit | Baltic Centre for Contemporar… · Getting to Baltic | Baltic Centre for Contempor… · checked 27 Sep 2026

Where
Gateshead Quays South South South Shore Road, Gateshead

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Questions and answers

Does Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art have permanent artworks or exhibitions?

It has a few permanent works, including Heaven and Hell on the main stairwell, but presents changing exhibitions rather than a permanent exhibition.

Are guided tours available at Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art?

Baltic hosts guided tours.

Can children travel free on the Metro to Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art?

Children aged 11 and under can travel free on the Metro with a paying adult.

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