Glasgow: Scotland with style - Kelvingrove on course to break into top five UK museums

The extraordinary success of Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum reached another impressive milestone last week (15 June) as it welcomed the 3,000,000^th visitor through its doors barely 11 months after its re-opening on 11 July 2006, following a three-year, £35 million refurbishment.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is already Scotland’s premier tourist attraction and is the most popular museum outside London. It is now well on course to break into the top-five of all UK museums – a major coup for a civic museum.

Initial estimates that Kelvingrove would attract some 1.5 million visitors in its first year have been far exceeded, as visitors have flocked back to see favourites such as Sir Roger the Elephant, Rembrandt’s ‘A Man in Armour’ and Salvador Dali’s iconic ‘Christ of St. John of the Cross’.

Following on from this initial success, Kelvingrove has promised to deliver a fresh and exciting series of exhibitions and events over the coming months that will draw new visitors to the attraction.

Opening in September, ‘Kylie – The Exhibition’ will explore the Australian singer’s changing image as a popular icon and international performer. Created by the Arts Centre in Melbourne, the exhibition will feature photographs, videos and recordings spanning Kylie’s career and offers visitors the chance to get up close to 45 of her outfits including her overalls from ‘Neighbours’ and the stunning costumes used in her recent ‘Showgirl’ tour.

Kelvingrove is open: Monday to Thursday and Saturday 10am to 5pm, Friday and Sunday 11am to 5pm. Visit www.glasgowmuseums.com.

For more on what to see and do in Glasgow: Scotland with style visit www.seeglasgow.com.

Ends

Issued by:

Russell Paton

Brand PR Executive

Glasgow City Marketing Bureau

Phone: +44 (0)141 566 0834

Email: russell.paton@seeglasgow.com

Notes

‘Kylie – The Exhibition’ runs at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow from 21 September 2007 – 13 January 2008

Hi-res images of ‘Kylie – The Exhibition’ and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum can be downloaded from www.seeglasgow.com/eventimages

Kelvingrove’s 3,000,000^th visitor, Tom Derby, a former student at Glasgow University who now lives in Vietnam, visited the attraction with his wife Geyam and five year old son Robert. On being welcomed to Kelvingrove by the Lord Provost, Tom said: “I’m a bit surprised by this, but it’s great and my son is delighted. I used to visit Kelvingrove a lot and from what I’ve seen, the refurbishment is excellent.”

A video news release (VNR), which was produced for the re-opening of Kelvingrove in July 2006 can be viewed at: http://www.seeglasgow.com/media-office/kelvingrove/video-news-release

The VNR includes interviews with Glasgow City Marketing Bureau Chief Executive Scott Taylor; former Lord Provost of Glasgow, Bailie Liz Cameron who is now GCMB Vice-Chair; Mark O’Neill, Glasgow City Council’s Head of Arts and Museums; Glasgow-based residents from France, Germany, Spain, Italy and the US as well as vox pops in George Square.

UK Museum Rankings 2005/06 (DCMS):

1. (joint) Tate London* 5,570,609

2. British Museum 4,492,852

3. National Gallery 3,952,839

4. Natural History Museum 3,200,645

5. National Museum of Science & Industry 2,019,931

6. V&A Sth Kensington 1,902,587

7. National Museums Liverpool 1,608,132

8. National Portrait Gallery 1,528,310

9. National Maritime Museum 1,493,042

*only the combined figure for Tate Britain & Tate Modern was submitted.

Top 5 Free Admission Museums in Scotland 2005 (during Kelvingrove’s refurbishment)

1. Royal Museum and Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh 828,367

2. National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh 810,054

3. National War Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh 567,444

4. Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow 530,751

5. Museum of Transport, Glasgow 376,115