Arts Centre sights in Europe
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Wales Millennium Centre
The centrepiece and symbol of Cardiff Bay's regeneration, the Millennium Centre is an architectural masterpiece of stacked Welsh slate in shades of purple, green and grey topped with an overarching bronzed steel shell. Designed by Welsh architect Jonathan Adams, it opened in 2004 as Wales' premier arts complex, housing the Welsh National Opera, National Dance Company, National Orchestra, Academi (Welsh National Literature Promotion Agency), HiJinx Theatre and Ty Cerdd (Music Centre of Wales).
The roof above the main entrance is pierced by 2m-high, letter-shaped windows, spectacularly backlit at night, that spell out phrases from poet Gwyneth Lewis: 'Creu Gwir fel Gwydr o…
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Elbphilharmonie
A squat brown-brick former warehouse at the far west of HafenCity is the base for the architecturally bold new Elbphilharmonie, which will become a major concert hall. Pritzker Prize–winning Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron are responsible for the design, which captivates with its details like the 1096 individually curved glass panes. Also captivating for locals is the building's planned completion date, which was once 2010. But like butterflies in the spring, new dates have flitted by and 2015 is now being mooted. While the budget soars, it is hoped that a Westin Hotel will open in part of the complex in 2013.
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NDSM-Werf
Hop on the ferry behind Centraal Station and set sail for a different world. NDSM-werf looks like the set from a postapocalyptic film – abandoned boats and trams rust by the water’s edge, graffiti scrawls across every surface, smoke stacks belch in the distance, and huge carved wooden tiki heads gaze over it all. The area is actually a city-sponsored art community called Kinetisch Noord that has taken over a derelict shipyard. Participants converted a mondo old warehouse to hold more than 100 studios, theatres and a skateboard hall, and it has quickly become a centre for underground culture and events, such as the Over het IJ Festival. MTV thought the area was so…
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Haus am Wannsee
Get in on the latest hotshots on the Berlin art scene at this ivy-covered villa that’s been teetering on the cultural edge since 1946. Art here is not limited to paintings but also includes sculpture, media art, fashion, furniture and architecture. Staff also rent an audioguide (€5, in German only) for a 90-minute bicycle tour (bicycle rental €5) of nearby houses built by such famous architects as Gropius, Mies van der Rohe and Muthesius.
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Conway Mill
Conway Mill is a restored 19th-century flax mill that now houses around 20 artists' studios, an exhibition on the mill's history, an education centre and work spaces for local enterprises. It also houses the Irish Republican History Museum, a collection of artefacts, newspaper articles, photos and archives relating to the Republican struggle from 1798 to the Troubles.
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Dundee Contemporary Arts
The focus for the city's emerging Cultural Quarter is Dundee Contemporary Arts, a centre for modern art, design and cinema. The galleries here exhibit work by contemporary UK and international artists, and there are printmakers' studios where you can watch artists at work, or even take part in craft demonstrations and workshops. There's also the Jute Cafe-Bar.
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Kunst-Werke Berlin
The Scheunenviertel's most charismatic side reveals itself in the village-like labyrinth of lanes off Oranienburger Strasse. Embark on an aimless wander and you'll find a 19th-century ballroom or a bleeding-edge gallery such as Kunst-Werke Berlin.
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An Lanntair Art Centre
The modern, purpose-built An Lanntair Art Centre, complete with art gallery, theatre, cinema and restaurant, is the centre of the town’s cultural life; it hosts changing exhibitions of contemporary art and is a good source of information on cultural events.
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Hansa Studios & Meistersaal
David Bowie, Depeche Mode and U2 are among the megastars who have made key albums in the acoustically supreme Meistersaal at Hansa Studios, Berlin’s answer to London’s Abbey Road. Fritz Music Tours (3087 5633; www.musictours-berlin.com) offers guided tours.
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Royal Birmingham Society of Artists
At the northwest corner of the pretty Georgian St Paul's Sq, the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists has been exhibiting the work of local artists and artisans since 1814.
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Áras Éanna
Inisheer's large community arts centre sits out on an exposed stretch of the northern side of the island, a 15-minute walk from the village. It has visiting artists programs through the summer and various cultural programs and performances.
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Akbank Culture & Arts Centre
This excellent small venue, funded entirely by the Turkish bank of the same name, hosts classical and jazz music recitals, dance performances, film screenings and exhibitions of the work of local artists.
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Butetown History & Arts Centre
This centre is devoted to preserving oral histories, documents and images of the docklands. Its exhibits put the area into both a historical and present-day context.
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Centre d’Art Santa Mònica
The Convent de Santa Mònica, which once stood on the western flank of the street, has since been converted into the Centre d'Art Santa Mònica, a cultural centre that mostly exhibits modern multimedia installations; admission is free.
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St James' Cavalier
This 16th-century fortification has been transformed into a dazzling arts centre. Recent exhibitions have encompassed British artists including Lucian Freud, David Hockney and Stanley Spencer, and the photographs of Steve McCurry (famous for his iconic photograph of an Afghan girl). To gain a sense of the contemporary scene, step inside to see what's on in its various galleries. There's also a cinema and theatre.
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St John's Theatre & Arts Centre
Located in a former church and now hosting art exhibitions as well as drama, music and dance events.
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The Lowry
Looking more like a shiny steel ship than an arts centre, the Lowry is the quays' most notable success. It attracts more than one million visitors a year to its myriad functions, which include everything from art exhibits and performances to bars, restaurants and, inevitably, shops. You can even get married here.
The complex is home to more than 300 paintings and drawings by northern England's favourite artist, LS Lowry (1887–1976), who was born in nearby Stretford. He became famous for his humanistic depictions of industrial landscapes and northern towns, and gave his name to the complex.
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firstsite
Opinion has been divided about Colchester’s newest attraction – a new arts centre housed inside stunning a curved-glass and copper building. Inside, it’s also visually striking – lots of space, lots of light, installations flowing seamlessly into one another, and seats to perch on if you wish to leaf through some art books. The contemporary visual art on display is carefully chosen to be presented alongside historical works for context, and most exhibitions are temporary, with the exception of the magnificent Berryfield Mosaic – a Roman artefact found on firstsite’s location in 1923, and now under glass in the centre of the gallery space. There’s an interactive element to…
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Eyam Hall
This solid-looking 17th-century manor house with stone windows and doorframes is home to a craft centre and several eateries, surrounding a traditional English walled garden.
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New Brewery Arts Centre
Home to over a dozen resident craft workers and host to regular exhibitions, workshops and classes, this arts centre is set in a beautifully converted Victorian brewery.
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