Gallery of Modern Art
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Based in what was once the townhouse of tobacco trader William Cunninghame of Lainshaw, the Gallery of Modern Art counteracts the impression created by its imposing 18th century, neo-classical façade by going out of its way to be accessible to the man on the street.
Everything in this city-centre gallery comes with clear descriptions that explain the work in terms even the most casual gallery-goer can understand. It's a policy that has encouraged GoMA's status as the second most visited contemporary art gallery outside London.
Showcasing the City of Glasgow's impressive collection of contemporary art, the gallery features artists cutting a dash on the international scene, many of them from Glasgow itself. Names to look out for include Ross Sinclair, Ian Hamilton Finlay, John Byrne, Christine Borland, Martin Boyce, Kenny Hunter and Ken Currie.
Work by Turner Prize winners Grayson Perry, Simon Starling and Douglas Gordon are also in the collection.
The high-ceilinged ground floor is used for changing exhibitions of painting and sculpture taken either from the city's collection or from outside. Every two years there are specially curated exhibitions in which artists address the political issues of the day. Take the stairs or lift to the higher galleries and you'll discover displays of recently acquired artworks and smaller visiting exhibitions of video art.
Making links with the wider community, the attractively curved walls of the small balcony galleries show off the work of collaborative arts projects with communities and artist. This work is curated by the education department which uses the top-floor studio for workshops and talks. The basement library, meanwhile, goes further to put modern art in context.