Culture in Aberdeen facts for kids
Welcome to Aberdeen, a vibrant city in Scotland! Aberdeen is full of exciting places to visit and fun things to do. You can explore cool museums, art galleries, and enjoy many festivals and shows all year round. It's a great place to learn about history, art, and science, or just have a good time.
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Top Places to Visit in Aberdeen
Aberdeen has many popular spots that visitors love. Here are some of the main attractions you might enjoy:
- Aberdeen Art Gallery – See amazing artworks from different times.
- Aberdeen Central Library – A huge library with over 60,000 books!
- Aberdeen Maritime Museum – Discover Aberdeen's strong connection to the sea.
- The Belmont Picturehouse Cinema – Catch the latest movies.
- Cineworld Cinema – Another great spot for films.
- Codonas Amusement Park – Have fun on rides and games.
- Doonies Farm – Meet farm animals and enjoy the outdoors.
- The Gordon Highlanders Museum – Learn about a famous Scottish army regiment.
- His Majesty's Theatre – Watch big shows and performances.
- James Dun's House – A historic building with interesting stories.
- King's College – Explore a beautiful old university campus.
- The Lemon Tree – A smaller venue for music and shows.
- Marischal Museum at Marischal College – See collections from the university.
- The Museum of Education Victorian Classroom – Step back in time to a Victorian school.
- Peacock visual arts – A place for modern art and printmaking.
- Provost Ross's House – Home to the Aberdeen Maritime Museum.
- Provost Skene's House – One of Aberdeen's oldest surviving homes.
- Satrosphere Science Museum – A fun place to learn about science.
- Storybook Glen – A magical park with characters from fairy tales.
- The Tolbooth Museum – Learn about Aberdeen's history in an old prison building.
- Transition Extreme – A £3 million centre with a skate park and a climbing wall.
- Vue Cinema – Another popular cinema in the city.
Theatre and Live Shows
Aberdeen has a lively theatre scene. The biggest shows happen at His Majesty's Theatre. This grand building hosts large plays, musicals, and other performances.
The Aberdeen Arts Centre is a smaller theatre run by volunteers. It often hosts local events and charity shows. The Lemon Tree is another small venue. It puts on smaller plays, like pantomimes at Christmas, and charity events.
Art and Creativity in Aberdeen
Aberdeen has a rich history in the art world. A famous artist named George Jamesone helped introduce Scottish art to the rest of Britain and the world. His success opened doors for other Scottish artists.
In 1884, the Aberdeen Art Gallery was built to show off amazing art. It has a permanent collection with works by famous artists like Damien Hirst, Francis Bacon, Monet, and Renoir. People from Aberdeen and visitors can enjoy these artworks all in one place.
The Grampian Hospitals Arts Trust (GHAT) believes that art can make hospital environments better for everyone. They create special art projects for hospitals to help people feel happier and healthier.
Scotland's National Arts Companies often visit Aberdeen. The Aberdeen Art Gallery also has collections of Impressionist, Victorian, Scottish, and 20th-century British paintings. You can also see collections of silver and glass. The gallery always has new modern art and visiting exhibitions too.
In 2017, the NuArt Festival brought amazing street art to Aberdeen. You can see large murals and artworks in many places around the city, including a big one on the side of the Aberdeen Market.
Cool Art Places in Aberdeen
- Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museum – A must-see for art lovers.
- Gray's School of Art – Where future artists learn and create.
- Peacock Visual Arts – A centre for contemporary art and printmaking.
Famous Artists from Aberdeen
- George Jamesone – A very important early Scottish painter.
- James Cromar Watt – Known for his portraits and stained glass.
- John Phillip – A painter famous for his Spanish scenes.
Museums to Explore
Aberdeen has several fascinating museums where you can learn about different parts of history and culture.
The Aberdeen Maritime Museum is located in Shiprow. It tells the story of Aberdeen's strong connection to the sea. You can learn about old sailing ships and modern oil and gas technology. The museum has interactive exhibits and cool models, like a huge 8.5-meter (28-foot) model of an oil platform! You can also see parts from the Rattray Head lighthouse.
Provost Ross' House is the second oldest house in Aberdeen. It was built in 1593! It still has some original medieval features, like an old kitchen and fireplaces.
The Gordon Highlanders Museum shares the history of one of Scotland's most famous army regiments. You can learn about their brave stories and see their uniforms and medals.
The Marischal Museum holds many collections from the University of Aberdeen. It has about 80,000 items, including fine art, Scottish history, archaeology, and ancient items from Europe and the Middle East. It's open to the public and also helps university students and researchers. They have permanent displays and often host new temporary exhibitions.
Festivals and Events
Aberdeen hosts many exciting festivals throughout the year, celebrating different types of art and culture.
- Aberdeen International Youth Festival – A big festival showcasing youth arts from around the world.
- DanceLive – A festival dedicated to modern dance.
- Sound – This festival celebrates new music from North-East Scotland.
- New Words – A festival that highlights new writing in Aberdeen City and Shire.
Music Scene in Aberdeen
Aberdeen has a lively music scene. You can find live music in many pubs, clubs, and even some churches with great choirs. Belmont Street is especially known for its bars with live music.
Traditional Scottish Cèilidhs (social gatherings with folk music and dancing) are also common in some of the city's halls. Popular music venues include The Lemon Tree, The Tunnels, the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, and Aberdeen Music Hall.
Some famous musicians from Aberdeen include Evelyn Glennie (a world-renowned percussionist), Seb Rochford (a jazz drummer), and Annie Lennox (a famous singer from the Eurythmics).
