Latest news with #Kelvingrove
Daily Record
06-08-2025
- Daily Record
Scottish museum with Dalí masterpiece and WW2 artefacts named second best in the world
Washington DC's National Portrait Gallery is the only museum with a better rating than the iconic Scottish institution. A museum in Scotland has been named one of the best-rated museums in the world. New research found the iconic institution had one of the lowest proportions of negative visitor reviews globally. The study, carried out by Radical Storage, analysed over 82,000 reviews of the 100 most-visited museums and galleries worldwide. It scored institutions on a ratio of positive to negative reviews, with a final rating out of 100. Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum scored an impressive 75.9, placing second in the global ranking just behind Washington D.C.'s National Portrait Gallery, which scored 76.9. Reviewers praised Kelvingrove's diverse collections, welcoming atmosphere, and stunning building. Just 3.5 per cent of reviews mentioned a negative experience. And more than half (53.8%) included positive language such as 'great', 'beautiful' or 'amazing'. These proportions mirror those of the top-ranked National Portrait Gallery. Opened in 1901 after beginning life as the City Industrial Museum, Kelvingrove underwent a £27.9million refurbishment that was completed in 2006. The investment clearly paid off. The museum now features 22 themed galleries and around 8,000 objects covering everything from natural history and weaponry to Impressionist art and Scottish design. Among its most famous exhibits are Salvador Dalí's celebrated painting, Christ of St John of the Cross; a World War II Spitfire suspended from the ceiling; and the much-loved taxidermy elephant, Sir Roger. The museum also offers hands-on experiences designed with families in mind, along with a café, restaurant and gift shop. The building itself, located in Glasgow's West End, is widely admired as an attraction in its own right. As well as its stunning architecture, the museum is brilliantly placed. The lush Kelvingrove Park is just minutes away and the Kelvin Walkway runs from the back of the museum along the pleasant river. Just a few minutes' walk in either direction you'll find the bustling area of Finniestion or Byres Road, the heart of the West End, both of which are filled with popular bars, restaurants, and shops. Tripadvisor reviewers have given Kelvingrove an average rating of 4.7 stars from nearly 16,000 reviews. One visitor wrote: 'Very nice museum… and the staff were very helpful, especially those in the shop, very attentive and knowledgeable.' Another added: 'So much to see. Plenty of interesting museum exhibits and a good art collection as well. Well worth a couple hours at least. And it's free entry!' Another reviewer highlighted the museum's wide appeal: 'There are many different rooms to see. There is all the Scottish wildlife with Sir Roger the elephant. The outside of the building is just as cool as the inside. Totally worth stopping at.' The study also highlighted Kelvingrove's efforts around diversity and inclusion. The museum received double the average mentions of diversity in reviews (1.2 percent compared to the global average of 0.5 percent), and double the mentions of friendliness (5 percent compared to 2.4 percent). Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Across all museums in the study, 50.6 percent of reviews were classed as positive, while 8.5 percent were negative. However, the data showed a gradual rise in negative feedback over the last decade, with 9.9 percent of reviews in 2024 expressing disappointment, nearly double the 5.3 percent seen in 2014. The least satisfying museum experience, according to the research, was the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., which scored just 7.5 out of 100. Only 35.3 percent of its reviews were positive, and over 15 percent were negative. The study noted that 17.7 percent of all negative terms used in reviews for that museum were simply the word 'dull', far above the average of 1.5 percent. Rank Museum City Country Study score out of 100 Most common positive phrase 1 National Portrait Gallery Washington, D.C. United States 76.9 Great 2 Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum Glasgow United Kingdom 75.9 Great 3 National Museum of Korea Seoul South Korea 74.1 Great 4 Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum Madrid Spain 73.8 Great 5 Palacio de Cristal del Retiro Madrid Spain 71.9 Beautiful 6 California Science Center Los Angeles United States 69.5 Great 7 National Folk Museum of Korea Seoul South Korea 65.2 Good 8 Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal Montreal Canada 62.1 Great 9 National Gallery of Art Washington, D.C. United States 56.1 Great 10 National Maritime Museum London United Kingdom 55.2 Great The world's top 10 most disappointing museums Rank Museum City Country Study score out of 100 Most common negative phrase 1 The National Air and Space Museum Washington, D.C. United States 7.5 Disappoint* 2 Science Museum London United Kingdom 8.2 Disappoint* 3 American Museum of Natural History New York City United States 8.7 Crowd* 4 Natural History Museum London United Kingdom 11.5 Crowd* 5 Grand Palais Paris France 11.7 Crowd* 6 Vatican Museums Vatican City, Rome Vatican City 12.2 Crowd* 7 The British Museum London United Kingdom 13.6 Crowd* 8 Louvre Museum Paris France 13.7 Crowd* 9 Museo Nacional del Prado Madrid Spain 14.2 Crowd* 10 Tate Modern London United Kingdom 14.3
The Herald Scotland
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
'Cargo of nostalgia' - Review: Teenage Fanclub, Kelvingrove
Kelvingrove, Glasgow Teenage Fanclub start as they mean to go on. At nine in the evening the five-piece band bounce onto the stage with an enthusiasm that's hard to fake in men largely in their fifties and sixties and launch into Foreign Land from their 2023 album Nothing Lasts Forever. Guitars snarl and spit, but you can't ignore the sweetness that underlies everything. And that is the story of the 'best band in the world' (according to Kurt Cobain, and he's no longer around to contradict himself). They may have emerged from Bellshill at the fag end of the 1980s as a slightly chaotic noise band with scuzzy tendencies, but sweetness followed. In thrall to Big Star and the Byrds, the Teenage Fanclub sound is one ultimately marked by harmony. A power pop band with three singer-songwriters (until the departure of Gerry Love in 2018), they have remained largely in tune throughout more than three decades. That was very much on show during this en plein air gig. And not just in the vocals. Incongruously squeezed between Chicago's pop queen Anastacia and noughties singer-songwriter Natasha Bedingfield in the Summer Nights programme, the Fannies brought their own cargo of fond nostalgia for an audience that had largely grown up with their records. Read more: The cynical (and I have been that soldier at times) might be prone to dismiss the Fannies as a band loved as much for their record collection as their music, but it's clear tonight that this is a minority opinion. And one that doesn't hold up to examination. What You Do To Me prompts a rush to the front of the stage. And when the band break into Neil Jung from their Grand Prix album a middle-aged moshpit kicks off. 'The second best band in the world' (according to Liam Gallagher, and you can probably guess whom he considered the first) are not natural showmen, but they are compelling to watch. Blake is the voice of the band, naming the songs, telling us he's dropped his plectrum, apologising for the bum notes he's just played (that no one noticed) or confirming that, yes, that is a can of Chappie dog food sitting on the speaker. McGinley only opens his mouth to sing, but his singing and, in particular, his guitar says plenty. He pulls and cajoles riffs out of his instrument, his whole body bending into the action. At times he strangely reminds me of one of those wibbly-wobbly air dancers you used to see outside car dealerships. His playing gives a taste of gravel and grit to the evening. Half a dozen songs in, McGinley launches into Everything Is Falling Apart, the performance of which has a metallic sharpness at odds with much of the almost bucolic atmosphere of the evening. But even that song, it should be noted, is a declaration of love. And six songs later the band are telling us The World'll Be OK. Rattling through 14 songs in just over an hour Blake admits the band have miscalculated the length of the set list and need to add a couple of songs. No one is complaining. The Concept prompts a mass singalong and the band finish where they started with their first single, Everything Flows, its sweep and drive and tidal pull as good a summary of the band's appeal as any. Tonight, they're definitely the best band in Glasgow. We never find out why the Can of Chappie is there, though.
Glasgow Times
11-07-2025
- Glasgow Times
Iconic Glasgow museum named 'second best' in the world
Radical Storage ranked Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in the West End as the second best in the world in its 'The World's Most and Least Disappointing Museums' list. The Glasgow institution missed out on the top spot, which was snapped up by The National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., in the US. READ MORE: Popular Glasgow bar named among the best in the world Radical Storage claims that over 197million people visited the top 100 museums in 2024, with visitor numbers returning to their 'natural levels' following the pandemic. To combine the world's most and least disappointing museum list, Radical Storage analysed visitor reviews of 100 of the most visited museums (including galleries) across the globe. The study used 102 keyword indicators for positive and negative experiences, such as 'beautiful' or 'boring', to find the percentage of reviews that indicated a good or bad experience. The percentage of positive reviews was then divided by the percentage of negative reviews in the study to give an overall score, expressed out of 100. READ MORE: Popular Glasgow restaurant named one of Scotland's 'best' Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum received an impressive score of 75.9, closely behind the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., which received a score of 76.9 out of 100. The world's third-best museum, according to the ranking, is the National Museum of Korea in Seoul, South Korea, which scored 74.1 out of 100. Revealing Kelvingrove as one of the world's best, Radical Storage said: "Hot on the heels of the Washington, D.C. gallery is the Glaswegian Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. "This institution has the same small proportion of negative reviews (3.5%) and a similar amount (53.8%) of positive reviews. This gives the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow a score of 75.9. "Starting life in 1870 as a City Industrial Museum, the rebranded Art Gallery and Museum opened in 1901. "More recently, the Kelvingrove reopened after three years of work in 2006. "The £27.9 million refurbishment has clearly paid off. "The collection includes art and artefacts not only from Scotland but across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. "It's perhaps unsurprising, then, that the museum had double the proportion of words mentioning diversity than average (1.2% compared to the average of 0.5%). "The museum also had double the mentions of friendliness (5% of positive mentions compared to the average of 2.4%)."
Glasgow Times
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
New markets to showcase creative talent heading to Glasgow
Tea Green Events is launching a series of design markets across Scotland, celebrating the work of emerging and established designers in venues including Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow. Founded by Dundee-based jeweller Joanne MacFadyen, the events will feature more than 70 designers presenting artwork, knitwear, jewellery, pottery and more. (Image: Steven McClure) Read more: GoMA workshop turns asylum seekers' art into postcards and tote bags Joanne said: "We held our very first market at the Glasgow School of Art Students' Union, so returning to the city always feels special, especially in venues as stunning as Kelvingrove and The Burrell Collection. "They provide the perfect backdrop for our designers' incredible work. "As a child, I spent a lot of time visiting these places and they were a huge source of inspiration to me. "Returning with Tea Green and some of Scotland's most talented makers is a genuine honour. "It's always so moving to see the people of Glasgow turn out in such numbers to support these creatives, many of whom are quietly working away in home studios across the city each day, perfecting their art. "People really value meeting the makers, hearing their stories, and discovering how each piece is made." The first market of the season will take place at Kelvingrove on June 28 and 29, with the 2025 calendar set to include events at The Burrell Collection, V&A Dundee, Aberdeen Art Gallery and National Galleries of Scotland: Portrait in Edinburgh. One of the designers taking part is artist and illustrator Steven McClure, who began drawing during the pandemic. Steven McClure is one of the designers taking part (Image: Andrew Jackson) (Image: Steven McClure) Read more: STV presenter 'brings the sunshine' to officially open Glasgow care home Steven said: "Living in Glasgow's West End and having a lifelong passion for architecture, I'm lucky to be surrounded by constant inspiration, not just in the beautiful buildings themselves, but in the personal stories connected to them. "My journey has taken me from designing buildings to selling them, and now to drawing them. "I love being part of the Tea Green markets because so many people stop by to share their stories about the places I've drawn. "It's lovely to hear how my work resonates with their own memories and experiences. "There's a real sense of pride that comes from selling or being commissioned to capture a building or landmark that holds deep personal meaning for someone. "From a business perspective, Tea Green has also been a brilliant platform. "It's raised my profile, connected me with buyers, and even led to some local shops now stocking my prints, which has been a fantastic step forward for my work."
Daily Record
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Celebrated Alasdair Gray artworks go on display for first time at Scottish museum
Artworks by Alasdair Gray are on show for the first time at Kelvingrove, including pieces gifted in memory of his late wife and the original art for Poor Things For the first time ever, artworks by the celebrated artist and writer Scottish Alasdair Gray are being exhibited at Kelvingrove Gallery, the very place he credited with inspiring his lifelong passion for art. The display features nine pieces from the Morag McAlpine Bequest, gifted to Glasgow Life Museums ten years ago in memory of Gray's late wife. Among the highlights is the original artwork for his 1992 novel Poor Things, recently adapted into a major feature film in 2023. These personal works, including portraits that later became characters in his stories and framed drawings for his own and others' book covers, were originally given to Glasgow Museums in 2014 following Morag's passing. This exhibition coincides with what would have been Gray's 90th year. The multi-talented Glaswegian, who died in December 2019 aged 85, was not only a novelist and poet but also a prolific playwright, painter, and printmaker. His creative legacy continues to thrive through books, exhibitions, conferences, and the annual Gray Day held every 25 February. The Morag McAlpine Bequest enriches the existing Alasdair Gray collection at Glasgow Life Museums, which already includes his City Recorder series from the late 1970s, some of which are displayed at the Gallery of Modern Art. The new exhibition, housed in the Fragile Art Gallery, marks a decade since the donation. Alongside Poor Things, visitors can view the wrap-around jacket for Old Negatives, artwork in progress for Agnes Owens' People Like That, and the piece A Working Mother. The display offers a fascinating glimpse into Gray's artistic methods, highlighting how he reused imagery and drew from historical artworks to shape his distinctive style. Katie Bruce, producer curator with Glasgow Life, said: "Alasdair Gray showed great generosity when he gifted The Morag McAlpine Bequest to the city, following the passing of his wife. "These personal gifts for anniversaries, birthdays, and Christmas, include portraits later transformed into characters in his work and framed drawings for book covers and dust jackets, both for his own publications and those of fellow writers. "It is fitting and wonderful to display this collection in a place that meant so much to Gray, and to offer audiences a deeper understanding of his innovative practice and extraordinary talent." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Visitors to Kelvingrove can also admire Cowcaddens Streetscape in the Fifties, painted in 1964. This evocative work, which Gray described as "my best big oil painting," captures life in a Glasgow neighbourhood deeply changed after the war. It stands as a significant example of his painting during the decade following his graduation from Glasgow School of Art in 1957. This painting captures the changes in landscape and community life in Cowcaddens, one of Glasgow's oldest districts. It is an important reminder of the city's past, reflecting the post- war transformation that shaped modern Glasgow. The combination of this artwork alongside the Morag McAlpine Bequest creates a rich and diverse showcase of Gray's talents, allowing visitors a rare insight into the breadth of his artistic career and the influences behind his work.
