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The Macabre McManus

The Macabre McManus

It’s spooky season and to inspire your Halloween costumes here are some objects drawn from our creepy collections! Did you know that trick-or-treating was originally a Scottish and Irish tradition? Known as ‘guising’, children (and adults) would dress as ghouls so they could blend in with the spirits that roamed the earthly plane on All Hallows Eve, thus remaining undetected and unharmed…All of these items are on display so come and see just how Macabre the McManus can be!

Frankenstein: Frankenstein’s Dundee Comic (2019)

Between 1812 and 1814 Mary Shelley, author of the classic novel ‘Frankenstein’, spent 14 months in Dundee with the family of William Thomas Baxter. First published in 1818, it was in a later edition of the book that Shelley…

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Scold’s Bridle (c.17th century)
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New Exhibition at The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery & Museum

The Street at The McManus

Saturday 13 November 2021 until 23 October 2022  

The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery & Museum is inviting visitors to take a walk down memory lane and look at the history of shopping and licensed trades in the city with their latest exhibition, The Street at The McManus.  

The McManus; Dundee's Art Gallery and Museum have worked closely with Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre to provide an immersive experience. The large street set has taken over one of the galleries, where visitors can now visit a shop from days gone by and stand at the bar. They can also browse the windows of an old toy shop and pawnshop, look into the window of a shoe and furniture shop, as well as peruse fashions from yesteryear in a department…

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New Exhibition at The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery & Museum

Time & Tide: How Rock Core Samples Helped the Dundee Waterfront Development

The McManus' David Lampard talks about the discoveries made during the Dundee Waterfront Development, and the changes that have occurred in the area over decades, centuries, and millenia!

The stunning Scottish landscape has been shaped by the elements and has attracted visitors for centuries. Find out why it is so special with the Scottish Geology Festival! From 1 September to 17 October 2021, Scottish Geology Trust will be celebrating with over 50 in-person and online events and talks. Find out more at https://www.scottishgeologytrust.org/scottish-geology-festival-2021/

Exhibition Dates:

Thur 20 Aug 2020 - Sun 3 Oct 2021

Venue:

The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery & Museum

Admission:

FREE

Exhibition…

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Time & Tide: How Rock Core Samples Helped the Dundee Waterfront Development

The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery and Museum honours a pioneering woman artist with a stunning new acquisition

On the exterior wall of The McManus is a small blue plaque proclaiming the name Katherine Read, Artist, 1723-1778. Hiding in plain sight - how many visitors know of the existence of this amazing Dundee-born artist? Thanks to the pioneering work of the Dundee Woman's trail, this trailblazing Dundee artist was rediscovered and The McManus has now acquired one of Read's finest paintings to celebrate her remarkable career.

It is believed that Katherine Read was the first Scottish woman to receive training as an artist. As a woman, she could not undertake the professional training a male artist would expect and she was never able to study life drawing. Despite this significant drawback, she became a successful professional artist equal to any of her male peers. A contemporary of…

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The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery and Museum honours a pioneering woman artist with a stunning new acquisition

The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery and Museum honours a pioneering woman artist with a stunning new acquisition

On the exterior wall of The McManus is a small blue plaque proclaiming the name Katherine Read, Artist, 1723-1778. Hiding in plain sight - how many visitors know of the existence of this amazing Dundee-born artist? Thanks to the pioneering work of the Dundee Woman's trail, this trailblazing Dundee artist was rediscovered and The McManus has now acquired one of Read's finest paintings to celebrate her remarkable career.

It is believed that Katherine Read was the first Scottish woman to receive training as an artist. As a woman, she could not undertake the professional training a male artist would expect and she was never able to study life drawing. Despite this significant drawback, she became a successful professional artist equal to any of her male peers. A contemporary of…

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The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery and Museum honours a pioneering woman artist with a stunning new acquisition

The McManus marks Nelson Mandela Day

The McManus: Dundee's Art Gallery & Museum invited Chris Law MP, ahead of Nelson Mandela Day on Sunday 18 July, to view items on loan from his collection that they have been put on display in their Making of Modern Dundee Gallery. Included in the display are signed first editions of 'In His Own Words' and 'The Long Walk to Freedom' by Nelson Mandela as well as ephemera and interesting items relating to the campaign to free Mandela that have been collected over the past 20 years.  

Nelson Mandela, the former-President of South Africa, spent 27 years in prison on Robben Island under South African Apartheid, from 1962 until his eventual release at the end of Apartheid in 1989. The Anti-Apartheid Scottish Committee formed in Dundee in 1976, and was active under that…

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The McManus marks Nelson Mandela Day

The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery & Museum to reopen 7 days a week

The McManus: Dundee's Art Gallery & Museum will be returning to 7 day opening from Monday 28 June, 2021. The galleries have been open 5 days a week since April and are now ready, once again, to provide their famous warm welcome every day. 

Visitors and Dundonians alike will be able to experience Dundee's museum collection in eight beautiful open gallery spaces. The galleries act as the City's civic memory, housing fascinating individual items of art, which provide an engaging insight into the history of Dundee.  

Also on show are two major exhibitions, 'A Love Letter to Dundee: Joseph McKenzie Photographs 1964-1987' and 'Time and Tide: The Transformation of The Tay' which both focus on change in the city. 

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The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery & Museum to reopen 7 days a week

New photography exhibition shares snapshots of life in Tayside

New photography exhibition shares snapshots of life in Tayside as partnership between The McManus and Tayside Healthcare Arts Trust frames art as essential healthcare.

Lockdown project sees participants with long term health conditions guided by photographer and artist David P Scott to develop their own photographic style.
  Art Fund supported project worked with ten budding photographers documenting their lives in lockdown and taking inspiration from A Love Letter to Dundee: Joseph McKenzie Photographs 1964-1987 exhibition currently running at The McManus: Dundee's Art Gallery and Museum.
  Loving Photography exhibition goes online and runs from 8th April to 29th May 2021.

This Thursday 8th April sees the launch of a new exhibition highlighting the…

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New photography exhibition shares snapshots of life in Tayside

The McManus ‘Reconnects’ to combat Covid-19 social isolation

The McManus: Dundee's Art Gallery & Museum has embarked on an ambitious six-month remote learning and engagement project to help combat isolation heightened by the current COVID-19 pandemic. 'Reconnect' will enable the museum to continue to provide valuable cultural engagements, resources and experiences for community groups with long term health conditions and families groups. This will enhance positive cultural participation and ensure that isolated and shielding participants can still benefit from the rich experiences the museum has to offer.

An integrated team of museum educators, curators, cultural partners and freelance artists has been brought together to support those most in need. Participant groups involved are from Alzheimer Scotland, Home-Start Dundee and…

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The McManus ‘Reconnects’ to combat Covid-19 social isolation

Inside and Outside

As lockdown restrictions begin to ease, art historian and curator Alice Strang reflects on the past few months in paintings in our modern Scottish art collection.



Alberto Morrocco (1917-98), The Striped Curtain, 1968 © The Artist’s Estate

Living under lockdown has meant that most of us have spent more time than usual at home. The Striped Curtain of 1968 by Alberto Morrocco (1917-98) celebrates our everyday surroundings in a lively kitchen interior. Morrocco was born in Aberdeen to Italian parents. He studied at Gray’s School of Art in the city, under James Cowie (1886-1956) and Robert Sivell (1888-1958). In 1941 he married Vera Mercer and following his appointment to the staff of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in 1950, they moved to Dundee. Morrocco was…

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Inside and Outside

The McManus Wins Best Visitor Attraction Award at National Final

Last night, The McManus: Dundee's Art Gallery & Museum  struck gold at the 2019/20 Scottish Thistle Awards National Final at Edinburgh International Conference Centre where they won Best Visitor Attraction.

The Scottish Thistle Awards, now in their 27th year, help shine the spotlight on individuals and businesses going above and beyond to create a destination and visitor experience worth talking about amongst our valuable tourism industry. They champion the very best of the Scottish tourism industry, celebrating innovation, success and excellence in the sector.

2019 saw almost 600 entries submitted, including more than 1,000 nominations from members of the public keen to give hotels, restaurants, B&Bs, visitor attractions and individuals the opportunity to…

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The McManus Wins Best Visitor Attraction Award at National Final