As the nights draw in, visitors can step into a world of Gothic horror and spine-tingling stories as the University of Aberdeen’s Fear and Fascination: A Gothic Exhibition hosts a series of special spooky events.
Since opening in May, the exhibition has already welcomed more than 4,000 visitors, drawing praise for its atmosphere and depth. One visitor described it as “absolutely beautiful in the most dark and enthralling way,” while another called it “an eye-opener” that revealed “so much about the Gothic genre I didn’t know before.”
Showcasing rare eighteenth- and nineteenth-century texts including The Castle of Otranto (1764), The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890), and M. R. James’s Ghost Stories of an Antiquary (1904), the exhibition explores why we are simultaneously terrified and thrilled by the Gothic imagination.
Visitors can step into an immersive creative space, uncover literary tropes of terror, or relax in a cosy Victorian-style reading room.
To celebrate the season of scares, University Collections will host a series of chilling events to accompany the exhibition. The Fear & Fascination programme combines gothic-inspired tours, creative activities and talks exploring the intersections of science, literature, and history.
Across October and November, highlights include zoology tours of spooky creatures, Halloween storytelling and torchlight tours, hands-on workshops inspired by Dorian Gray, and expert talks on queer art history and the real science behind Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
Curator Christina Mackenzie said: “Gothic literature has an enduring appeal, and we’ve really tried to capture both the terror and the fascination it inspires.
“There’s still plenty of time to come along and experience the exhibition before it closes on 7 December, and over the next few months University Collections will be hosting a series of associated events to send a chill down your spine.
“The feedback so far has been wonderful, and we can’t wait to welcome more visitors as we head into the spookiest months of the year.”
Fear and Fascination: A Gothic Exhibition runs until 7 December 2025 at the Sir Duncan Rice Library Gallery, Bedford Road, Aberdeen AB24 3AA. Opening hours are 11am–7pm Mon–Fri, 1pm–4pm Sat & Sun.
For more information, including the full events programme, please visit https://www.abdn.ac.uk/collections/whats-on/ or contact: uoacollections@abdn.ac.uk