Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum Facts for Kids

Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

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Established	1908
Location	Russell Cotes Road, East Cliff, Bournemouth

The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum is a super cool art gallery and museum in Bournemouth, England. It's also known as the Russell-Cotes Museum. This amazing building, originally called East Cliff Hall, sits high up on the East Cliff. You can find it right next to the Royal Bath Hotel. It's a very important old building, officially called a Grade II* listed building, which means it's protected because of its special history and architecture.

What is the Russell-Cotes Museum?
What Exhibitions Are There?
Fun for Kids and Families
Images for kids
See also

What is the Russell-Cotes Museum?

The Russell-Cotes Museum is a place where you can explore art and interesting objects from around the world. It's like stepping back in time into a grand house filled with treasures. The museum is famous for its beautiful collections and its unique history.

Who Built the Russell-Cotes Museum?

In 1897, a man named Merton Russell-Cotes wanted to build a special birthday gift for his wife, Annie. Merton owned the Royal Bath Hotel at the time. He hired an architect named John Frederick Fogerty to design the house.

The house was built in the hotel's garden. It was created in a style called Art Nouveau, which uses flowing lines and natural shapes. The inside of the house was decorated by John Thomas and his son Oliver. The first part of the house was finished in 1901.

How Did the Museum Start?

In 1907, Annie Russell-Cotes decided to give their beautiful home, East Cliff Hall, and everything inside it to the town of Bournemouth. Merton also donated his large collection of fine art. Because of their generosity, they were made honorary freemen of the town.

The couple continued to live in part of the house. Over the next ten years, they paid for the house to be made even bigger. They also gave more gifts, including the land the house was built on. The museum was officially opened in 1919 by Princess Beatrice.

After Merton and Annie passed away, the Borough of Bournemouth took over the museum. It reopened as the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum on March 10, 1922. The museum was later made even bigger, opening a new section in 2000.

What Can You See Inside?

The museum is filled with many cool things that Sir Merton collected during his travels around the world. He especially loved collecting items from Japan. You can also see many paintings from his personal art collection.

One special room is called the Sir Henry Irving Museum. Henry Irving was a famous actor and a friend of the Russell-Cotes family. He used to stay in that very room. When he died in 1905, the room was made into a memorial for him. The items in this room came from a sale of Irving's belongings. They are displayed with other things related to his friends, like the famous actresses Ellen Terry and Sarah Bernhardt.

What Exhibitions Are There?

The museum often hosts special art shows. These shows happen twice a year and feature modern art. They also include works from the museum's main collection. Past exhibitions have shown art by painters like Jonathan Yeo and sculptors like Jon Edgar.

Fun for Kids and Families

The newer part of the museum has a restaurant where you can grab a bite to eat. There's also a play area for younger children. The art gallery in the older part of the museum always has a changing collection of pictures and statues to see.

Older kids can enjoy a "detective sheet" activity. You get to search for specific animals and birds hidden in the artworks, like a bat or a kingfisher! It's a fun way to explore the museum and discover new things.