55°51′57″N4°15′49″W / 55.8657°N 4.2635°W /55.8657; -4.2635
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TheMcLellan Galleries are a major exhibition space in the city ofGlasgow,Scotland, situated behind a frontage of shops and offices inSauchiehall Street.
As part of the city's expansion onBlythswood Hill spearheaded byWilliam Harley,[1] the Galleries were built in 1855-6 to a design by architectJames Smith ofBlythswood Square at a cost of £40,000.[2] They are named after their founder,Archibald McLellan (1795–1854), a coach builder, councillor andpatron of the arts.[3] Following his death,Glasgow Corporation acquired the galleries and collection,[4] and for a time they were known as theCorporation Halls before reverting to their former owner's name. The Galleries housedGlasgow School of Art from 1869 to 1899.[5]
In October 1986, the shop frontage building housing the Galleries was ravaged by fire,[6] but they re-opened in 1990 as the largest quality, climate-controlled, temporary exhibition gallery in Scotland. They continue to be the largest exhibition space in the city-centre.
WhileKelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum was closed for refurbishment between 2003 and 2006, the McLellan Galleries hosted a display of its best-loved works.
The McLellan Galleries were then leased to theGlasgow School of Art as studio and storage space in preparation for the planned redevelopment of theGlasgow School of Art campus.
Since 2012 there has been public discussion involving user organisations such as theRoyal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts[7] with a view to re-establishing the McLellan Galleries as a major feature in Glasgow’s cultural life.[8]
The galleries have been protected as acategory B listed building since 1970.[9]
Media related toMcLellan Galleries at Wikimedia CommonsMuseums and art galleries inGlasgow | ||
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See also:Glasgow art &culture | ||
