Aberdeen Archives, Gallery & Museums’ (AAGM) annual review 2024-25 highlights a vibrant year of exhibitions, events, learning programmes and community engagement across the Art Gallery, Maritime Museum, Provost Skene’s House, Archives, Treasure Hub and online.
From the premier of the Tall Ships Anthem at AAGM's popular weekly Lunchbreak Concerts series, to welcoming visitors again to the Archives Search Room at the Town House following a major collection move, AAGM welcomed over 331,000 visitors to explore Aberdeen’s rich cultural heritage and contemporary creativity.
The review highlights the organisation’s commitment to accessibility, sustainability and storytelling — with programmes that reached thousands of families, schools, volunteers and international audiences.
Councillor Martin Greig, Aberdeen City Council’s culture spokesman, said: “This latest Annual Review is an incredible snapshot of another bumper year for the Council’s Archives, Gallery & Museums service.
"The outstanding collection and superb venues are amongst Aberdeen’s greatest cultural assets. Following the success of this summer’s Tall Ships and Festival of the Sea events which saw a boost to visitor numbers across the venues, I look forward to the year ahead, highlights of which will include celebrating 100 years of the Cowdray Hall concert venue and 140 years of Gray’s School of Art with a major exhibition at the Art Gallery.”
The year at a glance:
- 331,528 admissions to our venues (an increase of 11,763 on 2023/24)
- 222,516 Art Gallery admissions including 32,040 during Spectra
- 4,250 scones sold!
- 80,001 Maritime Museum admissions
- 28,258 Provost Skene’s House admissions
- 753 Treasure Hub admissions
- 19,869 participants in public programme events
- 2,240 pupil visits to the Art Gallery, Maritime Museum and Provost Skene’s House Green Tourism Awards for the Art Gallery (gold), Maritime Museum, Provost Skene’s House and Treasure Hub (silver)
- 104 new objects and documents acquired, including works to increase representation and diversity in the MacDonald portrait collection
- 179 registered volunteers who contributed 5,416.6 hours, including the opening of the McBey reference library at the Art Gallery (Tuesdays and Thursdays) and supporting Open Days at the Treasure Hub
- £89,336 grant funding secured, including the William Syson Foundation Travel Fund to support school visits to the Art Gallery, and £16,475 funding from the Friends of AAGM to support new acquisitions, commissions, conservation and events.