PROUD HOSTS OF THE 15th INTERNATIONAL SALMONID CONFERENCE 2006
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baltic centre - venue
introduction - what is baltic?
Housed in a landmark industrial building on the south bank of the River Tyne in Gateshead, BALTIC is the biggest gallery of its kind in the world – presenting a dynamic, diverse and international programme of contemporary visual art.
BALTIC has no permanent collection, providing instead an ever-changing calendar of exhibitions and activities that give a unique and compelling insight into contemporary artistic practice. The BALTIC programme ranges from blockbuster exhibitions to innovative new work and projects created by artists working within the local community.
BALTIC is a place where visitors can experience innovative and provocative new art, relax, have fun, learn and discover fresh ideas.
BALTIC receives funding from The National Lottery through Arts Council England, Gateshead Council, Northern Rock Foundation and is supported by the European Regional Development Fund and One NorthEast.
the story so far
Construction began in 1998: only the south and north facades of the original 1950s building were retained. A new structure consisting of six main floors and three mezzanines was secured between the facades which contained 3000sqm of arts space (four galleries and a flexible performance space), artists' studios, cinema/lecture space, shop, a library and archive for the study of contemporary art and the Rooftop Restaurant on Level 6.
An additional two-storey structure: The Riverside Building, was constructed to the west of the main building, providing the main entrance into BALTIC, which looks out across Baltic Square and the Gateshead Millennium Bridge.
BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art opened on Saturday 13 July 2002. The inaugural exhibition, B.OPEN, featured work by Chris Burden, Carsten Holler, Julian Opie, Jaume Plensa and Jane & Louise Wilson, and attracted over 35,000 visitors in the first week.
Since then BALTIC has presented over 40 exhibitions and welcomed 2 million visitors.
Sune Nordgren left BALTIC in 2003 after working on the project for nine years, he is now Director of the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design in Oslo, Norway. He was succeeded by Stephen Snoddy, who was with BALTIC until 2004 and is now Director of The New Art Gallery Walsall. BALTIC’s current Director, Peter Doroshenko, joined the organisation in 2005.
contact baltic
BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art
Gateshead Quays, South Shore Road, Gateshead NE8 3BA
“The River Tyne, and its tributaries, is one of the principal natural assets of the North East region. It is a symbol of what can be achieved through improving environmental management, and through rural and urban regeneration along the river corridor. The Tyne has moved from being characterised by severe industrial pollution to being England’s premier salmon river, in just twenty or so years.
But much remains to be done, and threats to the water quality and therefore the health of the river exist in the form of pollution from agriculture and old mine workings, the proposed construction of the New Tyne Tunnel, old industrial pollution on the river bed in the estuary, and many other sources.
On the positive side, we believe more can be done to promote the Tyne as a huge asset for people living and working here, and as a significant reason for visiting the region. It offers multiple recreational opportunities such as angling, canoeing, and simply enjoying the scenery and wildlife. Improvements to the water quality, the riverside habitat, well managed access and the creation of wildlife ‘sanctuaries’ can undoubtedly be made. The implications for the region, as well as very real economic benefits, are of great significance.”
