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 Museum is an amazing art gallery and museum in Bournemouth, England. It's a really special old building, once known as East Cliff Hall. You can find it high up on the East Cliff, right next to the famous Royal Bath Hotel. This building is so important that it's a Grade II* listed building!

A Look Back: The Museum's Story
Exhibitions and Fun Activities
- Fun for Kids
Gallery
See also

A Look Back: The Museum's Story

The story of the Russell-Cotes Museum began in 1897. A man named Merton Russell-Cotes owned the Royal Bath Hotel. He wanted to give his wife, Annie, a fantastic birthday present. So, he asked an architect, John Frederick Fogerty, to build a beautiful house for her.

This house, first called East Cliff Hall, was built in the hotel's garden. It was designed in the cool Art Nouveau style. The inside was decorated by John Thomas and his son Oliver. The first part of the house was finished in 1901.

A Gift to Bournemouth

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

The couple continued to live in a 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 stood on. The museum was officially opened by Princess Beatrice in 1919.

Opening to the Public

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 later expanded into Merton's private part of the house. A new section was added in the year 2000, making it even bigger!

What You Can See Inside

The museum is filled with incredible items that Sir Merton collected on his trips around the world. He especially loved things 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 dedicated to his memory. It displays props and items from Irving's life. You can also see souvenirs linked to his friends, like the famous actresses Ellen Terry and Sarah Bernhardt.

Keeping the Museum Special

In October 2023, it was shared that the Russell-Cotes Museum needed about £4 million for repairs. This was to fix water damage and make sure the museum stays in great condition. The museum is now working to become an independent charity. This will help it continue to care for its amazing collections for years to come.

Exhibitions and Fun Activities

The museum often hosts special art shows twice a year. These shows feature modern art and connect with the museum's main collection. Past exhibitions have included works by artists like painter Jonathan Yeo and sculptor Jon Edgar in 2011.

Fun for Kids

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 section has a huge and always changing collection of pictures and statues.

Older kids can enjoy a "detective sheet" challenge. You get to search for pictures of different animals and birds, like a bat or a kingfisher, hidden around the museum. It's a fun way to explore and discover all the cool things!

Gallery

Interior of the hall in the museum
HMS Bombay; on Fire at Montevideo, Uruguay, 14 December 1864 by George Cochrane Kerr
Henry Irving's props
Dish decorated with a scene from the Nō play 'Momijigari' ('Maple Viewing') by Komai
Figure group entitled 'The Wrestlers' or 'Kawatso Saburo Overcoming Matano Goro'
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Iron plaque depicting a mounted Samarai battling Mongol foot soldiers by Komai
Japanese Mino ware (stoneware) plate decorated with an image of rats attacking cats after Kawanabe Kyousai (1831-1899)
Small cabinet shaped like a pagoda by Komai
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Venus Verticordia, oil on canvas by Dante Gabriel Rossetti between 1864 and 1868