Image: Sarah Munro MBE, Director of Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art (right) with David and Marie Thompson - Baltic's ten millionth visitors
Gallery reaches milestone visitor number since opening in 2002, with special reception including gifts and exclusive access to new exhibition ‘Remember, Somewhere’.
The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead has welcomed its ten millionth visitor this month.
The centre for contemporary art first opened its doors on Saturday 13 July 2002, and reached the major milestone on Wednesday 09 April 2025.
At 2:30pm, Marie and David Thompson from Northumberland become the official ten millionth visitors to the gallery, and were greeted by its director Sarah Munro MBE.
The visitors were presented with gifts and a visit to its restaurant, alongside an exclusive first viewing of its new exhibition ‘Remember, Somewhere’.
Munro said of the ten millionth visitors: “As well as being regular visitors with their children and grandchildren for the past 20 years, their daughter also got married at Baltic, so it’s a place that holds very special memories for them.
“It was back in 1991 when discussions first began about creating a major new centre for contemporary visual arts in Tyneside. The decision to create Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art was ambitious and incredibly bold at the time, and it spearheaded a decade on cultural-led regeneration in Gateshead and neighbouring Newcastle upon Tyne.
“When Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art opened its doors on Saturday 13 July 2002, more than 35,000 people visited the gallery in its first week.
“I know I speak on behalf of all the staff, trustees and funders at Baltic when I say it’s a huge honour to present great art from around the world, to welcome visitors from near and far every week, and to connect meaningfully with our local communities in a space that means so much to them.”
Last year the gallery was named the North East’s most visited free attraction by VisitBritain.
