One of the things I always try to do when visiting Newcastle is visit the Laing Art Gallery where, as well as discovering new artists and art works I can visit some old favourites. The city centre location makes it easy to access, being a short walking distance from the Monument metro and bus stations, and the free entry is enticing to those looking for cheap things to see and do. The open, airy feel of the first floor sculpture area and the circular layout of the second floor rooms make the gallery easy and pleasant to wander around without missing anything out. My last visit coincided with the Northern Print Biennale: 2009 Print Awards, which ...  Read the complete review

Apologies for the appalling title but needs must. The Cézanne bit will be explained later, the seasoning bit will be explained now. I use a seasoning reference because the Laing Art Gallery (LAG) is all about balance. Sometimes it gets it right, sometimes it gets it wrong, but overall the taste is okay. The reason for this being that the “gallery” as it calls itself often seems unsure as to whether it is a gallery or a museum. Now, whilst this can make the visit interesting, particularly when taking kids, it can detract from the impact of some of the displays. This works both ways; the display cabinets that clutter almost all of the ...  Read the complete review