Rogue's Gallery: A Guide to Art
There’s more to galleries than still life paintings and nudey sculptures. The Scottish contemporary art scene is thriving, and with a regular turnaround of exhibitions it provides a great way to catch some exceptional art – and get smashed on the cheap. Here’s a selection of just a few galleries that have regular opening parties
Generator Projects
25-26 Mid Wynd Industrial Estate, Dundee
This artist-run gallery is perhaps one of the most welcoming in Scotland. It’s like going to your favourite auntie’s house for lunch and being fed hundreds of pure nice cakes that mummy won't let you have. Only, there are rarely any cakes and instead you have to settle for Stella Artois and loads of good art.
Dundee Contemporary Arts
152 Nethergate, Dundee
Often laying on buses from Glasgow and Edinburgh, there’s no legitimate reason for missing a DCA opening. Expect great art alongside great-flavoured booze, and undoubtedly a cheeky wee party afterwards. Dundee might be the little sister to Glasgow and Edinburgh, but it knows how to throw a party.
SWG3
100 Eastvale Place, Glasgow
This massive gallery someway off the beaten track is well worth a visit. With an excellent reputation for showing cutting-edge art, it is also a venue for gigs and raves. So, when the free booze runs out you can head upstairs and hit the dance floor, or listen to bands you’re unlikely to find on your iPod.
David Dale Gallery and Studios
71-73 Brook Street, Glasgow
An artist-run space, David Dale Gallery might feel a little out of the way, but once you’re there you’ll find little reason to move on. With a seemingly endless supply of booze, and no residential neighbours, you can easily spend all night here, getting piss-pants drunk with fellow east-end reprobates.
The Duchy
23/25 Duke Street, Glasgow
This small gallery just east of the city centre fills up quickly, so make sure you get there early and beat the beer rush. Showcasing young talent, the gallery is a recent addition to the Glasgow art scene. Don’t be put off if everyone there seems to know each other – they’re pretending and are in fact as clueless as you.
Transmission
Trongate 103, Glasgow
Around long before you were born, Transmission Gallery has nonetheless stayed right up to date, with a regularly changing committee. A moderately large gallery, openings are busy nonetheless, offering obscure continental beer. Get there nice and early to get your hands on more than the dregs.
Superclub
11a Gayfield Square, Edinburgh
Smaller than your average bathroom, Superclub is a newcomer in the thriving Edinburgh art scene. Showing work by young artists, it reflects the capital’s penchant for colourful art and vibrant illustration, blurring boundaries while you get blurry vision.
Rhubaba
25 Arthur Street, Edinburgh
This oddly shaped gallery near Leith Walk is nothing to look at from the outside, but is an intriguing warren of studios on the inside. With a bar tucked away at the back, and little opportunity to see the work when busy, there’s really no excuse to do anything other than get bevvied here.
The Collective
22-28 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh
On the go since 1984, Collective gallery is best known for its New Work Scotland programme that gives recent graduates the opportunity to develop their work in a professional context. Openings are busy, offering beer from the posher end of the spectrum.