Imagine playing on a drumkit on a wall... (Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art)

Member Name: joerobo

Product:	Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art
Date:	23/05/09 (18 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Free entry, accessible exhibitions

Disadvantages: Quite slow exhibition turn around

The Baltic is an old flour mill which was converted a few years back into a contemporary art gallery. When this happened it was quite a big thing, which meant that the gallery received a large amount of funding which has allowed them to offer free entry since it opened. Their exhibitions are all temporary and generally last around about three months. Depending on how often you want to visit this can either be good or bad. If you are an arty person who enjoys galleries then this could be annoying since you will see the same things if you go often. On the other hand, you will never miss an exhibition if you don't want to.

The exhibition spaces are very large with very high ceilings which makes walking around the gallery a very pleasant experience. It does however mean that they don't get that much art in the gallery for such a massive building.

Exhibitions are very varied and typically there will always be something that will entertain younger people if you bring them with you. For instance, one exhibition had a vast number of gongs that you could play whilst another had a drum kit that you could play set up on a wall- you sat on a chair fixed onto the wall and played the drums looking up at the ceiling.

Put this ear the top of your list if you are visiting Newcastle.

Summary: If in Newcastle, have a look, its free