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Our History

The Laing Art Gallery is situated in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne, only five minutes from its busy shopping district. It was founded in 1901 by Alexander Laing, a Scottish wine and spirit merchant who wanted to give something back to the city in which he had made his Fortune.

When the city's first public gallery opened its doors, the exhibition was so popular that the police had to be called to tame the crowds. Over the following century it has had many popular exhibitions, which visitors have queued to see.

The present site of the Gallery was suggested in 1899 and the following year Alexander Laing offered £20,000 to the local council, which unanimously accepted his generous donation.

When the foundation stone was laid in 1901 by Mrs Watson-Armstrong there was much jubilation and a celebratory lunch at the Great Assembly Rooms (now the building housing the Ikon nightclub.) It was opened three years later by Viscount Ridley on October 13 1904 having cost Alexander Laing 50 per cent more than the original estimate.

On show for the opening was a collection of British paintings, work by local artists, applied arts and world cultures. The Gallery's aim was to build up a collection of contemporary paintings with a leaning towards local artists and local scenes.

The first curator was C. Bernard Stevenson who began to develop the collection from scratch though gifts, bequests, and a small number of purchases. He was curator for a staggering 53 years. His son B. Collingwood Stephenson took over in 1953 expanding the Laing's collection and establishing the Friends of the Laing Art Gallery.

The Laing has developed an impressive collection of 18th and 19th century paintings and internationally important watercolours. In recent years this permanent collection has been complemented by temporary exhibitions including an annual exhibition from the National Gallery in London.