City Art Centre

About City Art Centre

Enjoy a visit to the City Art Centre, a main Edinburgh art gallery with one of the best collections of Scottish art. We show interesting exhibitions from our own collections and from all over the world. We can also tempt you with an attractive shop located on the ground floor.

The City Art Centre has a busy programme of exhibitions which change regularly to suit the interests of our visitors. People come to see favourites from the City’s nationally Recognised collection of Scottish art; new work from local or international artists or exhibitions from other countries. Exhibitions of historic and modern photography, contemporary art and design, architecture and the built environment are staged in a rolling programme. We have shown Egyptian and Roman objects and even featured artwork and costumes from the Star Wars films.

An escalator and lift help you move around six floors, and you can be refreshed by sampling the menus in the café, or buy art books, cards, handbags and jewellery from our ground floor shop.

The City Art Centre is conveniently placed near to the Waverley rail station in the city centre.

All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact. We take every opportunity to ensure the details for City Art Centre are accurate, please contact us at hello[@]whatsonnetwork.co.uk if any of the above information is incorrect.

Upcoming Events at City Art Centre

Charles H. Mackie: Colour and Light

15th May 2021 - 10th October 2021

City Art Centre, Edinburgh Old Town

This major retrospective, the most comprehensive display of Charles H. Mackie’s work in over a century, showcases the breadth of his creative vision and talents.
Read more

Marine: Ian Hamilton Finlay

22nd May 2021 - 3rd October 2021

City Art Centre, Edinburgh Old Town

This major exhibition at City Art Centre focuses on the maritime theme in Ian Hamilton Finlay's work. It was a central element of his art, and one to which he returned throughout his life.
Read more

Islander: the Paintings of Donald Smith

29th May 2021 - 26th September 2021

City Art Centre, Edinburgh Old Town

This is the first major exhibition Donald Smith's work, in partnership with An Lanntair, Stornoway and is part of Edinburgh Art Festival 2021.
Read more

Digital Lecture: Playing Cricket with the Nabis: Charles H. Mackie’s French Connections

30th July 2021

Online Event Edinburgh

This lecture given by Belinda Thomson, Honorary Professor in art history at the University of Edinburgh, examines the influences of French Art in the work of Charles H. Mackie.
Read more

Exhibition Tour of ‘Marine: Ian Hamilton Finlay’

31st July 2021

City Art Centre, Edinburgh Old Town

Join us for an exhibition tour of 'Marine: Ian Hamilton Finlay' by Stephen Bann CBE, Emeritus Professor of History of Art and Senior Research Fellow at Bristol University.
Read more

Digital event: Descriptive tour for Visually Impaired Visitors of Charles H. Mackie: Colour and Light

21st August 2021

Online Event Edinburgh

Join artist Tessa Asquith-Lamb for a tour specifically designed for visually impaired visitors focusing on the Charles H. Mackie: Colour and Light exhibition!
Read more

Descriptive Tour for Visually Impaired Visitors of ‘Marine: Ian Hamilton Finlay’

4th September 2021

City Art Centre, Edinburgh Old Town

Join artist Tessa Asquith-Lamb for a tour specifically designed for visually impaired visitors focusing on the 'Marine: Ian Hamilton Finlay' exhibition.
Read more

Lecture: Charles Hodge Mackie and the Celtic Revival in Scotland and France

17th September 2021

City Art Centre, Edinburgh Old Town

This lecture explores the influence of both Scottish and French art on Charles Mackie through a consideration of the work he produced in the 1890s.
Read more

The Light Through the Trees and on the Water

18th September 2021

City Art Centre, Edinburgh Old Town

Create paintings expressing light in landscape and explore the addition of figures for symbolism and depth with artist Tessa Asquith-Lamb at this workshop inspired by Charles Hodge Mackie!
Read more

Incoming: New Acquisitions at the City Art Centre

19th September 2021 - 31st May 2022

City Art Centre, Edinburgh Old Town

Incoming: New Acquisitions at the City Art Centre presents a selection of paintings, drawings, prints, photographs and sculpture acquired within the last ten years.
Read more

Text Artworks

25th September 2021

Online Event Edinburgh

Create your own text artwork with artist Hannah Nugent, inspired by our ‘Marine: Ian Hamilton Finlay’ exhibition.
Read more

Family Event: Poetic Neon Signs

25th September 2021

City Art Centre, Edinburgh Old Town

Inspired by maritime themes in our Ian Hamilton Finlay exhibition, Create your own poetic neon sign using paint!
Read more

Push the Boat Out

2nd October 2021

City Art Centre, Edinburgh Old Town

Join writer Katy Hastie at a family friendly drop-in poetry session to make nautical collage poems that fold into origami boats to sail the seven seas - just bring your imagination!
Read more

Curator’s Tour of Charles H. Mackie: Colour and Light

8th October 2021

City Art Centre, Edinburgh Old Town

Join Dr Helen Scott, Curator of Fine Art, for a tour of the exhibition Charles H. Mackie: Colour and Light!
Read more

Reflections, The Light and Life of John Henry Lorimer

6th November 2021 - 20th March 2022

City Art Centre, Edinburgh Old Town

This exhibition at the City Art Centre will explore John Henry Lorimer’s art through five key themes: light, identity, family, femininity and home.
Read more

More Art Galleries in Edinburgh

Art and Vintage

3 Lyne Street, Edinburgh East EH7 5DN

Art and Vintage is a shop, cafe and art gallery selling original art works, crafts, good food and coffee and beautiful vintage items!
Read more

Birch Tree Gallery

23A Dundas Street , Edinburgh New Town EH3 6QQ

The Birch Tree Gallery focuses on works on paper and crafts that have roots in nature - whether in materials, inspiration or thematic elements.
Read more

Stick Factory

69 Mayfield Road, Edinburgh South EH9 3AA

Stickfactory Creative is a multifaceted team of artists, designers and builders.
Read more

Patriothall Gallery

Patriothall Gallery Off 48 Hamilton Place, Stockbridge and Canonmills EH3 5AY

Patriothall Gallery is an Artist led gallery run by the artists in the WASPS Patriothall Complex.The Artist working in WASPS Patriothall complex set up...
Read more

The Sutton Gallery

18A Dundas Street, Edinburgh New Town EH3 6HZ

The Sutton Gallery is based on Dundas Street in Edinburgh's New Town gallery district, specialising in modern British and European art at affordable prices...
Read more

Stills

23 Cockburn Street , Edinburgh Old Town EH1 1BP

Stills is a centre for photography based in the heart of Edinburgh. We offer exhibitions and production facilities as well as a range of engagement opportunities...
Read more

The Leith Gallery

65 The Shore, Leith EH6 6RA

The Leith Gallery is an award-winning Scottish art gallery specialising in Scottish contemporary art located on the Shore at Leith, a vibrant area of...
Read more

Gallery 23

23 Atholl Cresent, Edinburgh West EH3 8HQ

We aim to foster new connections by bringing together the artist and the viewer in a diverse new environment.Our mission is to develop an understanding...
Read more

Summerhall

1 Summerhall , Edinburgh South EH9 1PL

Summerhall is open to the public all year round and hosts events in all the City’s major festivals. But it’s far more than Edinburgh’s newest and...
Read more

Scottish National Portrait Gallery

1 Queen Street, Edinburgh New Town EH2 1JD

The Scottish National Portrait Gallery is one of Edinburgh’s most remarkable buildings – a great red sandstone neo-gothic palace which sits proudly...
Read more

All Art Galleries listings in Edinburgh

Sponsored Links

Popular Events

Popular Venues