1 EAGLETON NOTES: Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery

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Wednesday 20 August 2008

Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and MuseumGlasgow's Kelvingrove is a very special museum. For generations of people from Glasgow and the surrounding neighbourhoods, it has a deep, personal significance linked with every stage of their lives. Visits to ‘the art galleries’ are highlights of childhood memories; many people did their courting there; parenthood and grandparenthood see the cycle begin again.

Visitors develop favourites, which, like old friends, they drop in to see whenever they get a chance. And although everyone thinks their cherished local institution is special, the sense of Kelvingrove’s uniqueness is backed up by facts – it is the largest civic museum and art gallery in the UK, with collections of international importance.

Prior to its closure Kelvingrove’s annual total of one million visits made it in absolute terms the most-visited museum in Scotland, and the sixth most-visited museum in Britain.

Kelvingrove was closed for several years. It re-opened in June 2006 and has once again found its place in the heart of the people of the City.

Some friends and I visited it on Sunday when they have the organ giving a recital. It was a wonderful experience. The following will give a flavour of the main halls.

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