Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead has launched a new online archive chronicling 25 years of contemporary art exhibitions and learning and engagement projects at the gallery.
The expansive archive features more than 30,000 individual items from Baltic’s 25-year programming history and onsite library, including the very first exhibition at Baltic – Taratantara by Anish Kapoor – and its most recent exhibition, Manual Labour by Hannah Perry.
Free to access, Baltic Archive allows people to explore a rich collection of digital content – including images, video and audio – from past and current exhibitions, and to discover content by subject or theme. The development and design of the online archive site was made possible through awarded funds from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Digital Accelerator Programme.
The site has three routes in which content can be accessed:
- The Explore section showcases current and featured exhibitions and new content, chosen by Baltic’s Producers and Curators. This shines a light on what exhibitions and artists are exhibiting now at Baltic, and on the same day in years gone by. This section also highlights new videos made in-house by Baltic.
- The Discover section invites users to type in their interests to generate a list of matching terms which exist in the archive, leading visitors on unexpected discoveries of relevant content.
- The Search function is a powerful research tool to pinpoint specific resources or items in Baltic’s huge archive and library. Search for artists, exhibitions, subjects or artistic movements.
Sarah Bouttell, Producer of Documentation, Library & Archive at Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, said: “There was always an ambition to record and document Baltic’s history through an archive and library housed within the gallery itself. This new online resource gives people the freedom to search and explore Baltic’s archive and library online; providing access to 25 years of contemporary art exhibitions from some of the worlds leading artists, and an expansive collection of learning resources.
“It’s an opportunity for people to discover new art, like our current exhibitions from Hannah Perry and Joanne Coates; and also relive some of Baltic’s acclaimed exhibitions from its 25-year history, including Domain Field by Antony Gormley (May-September 2003) and Spencer Tunick (January-March 2006). It can also be used to catch up on an exhibition or event people have missed, like an artist talk, or to revisit one they have enjoyed and find out more about it.
“Our ambition for Baltic Archive is that it becomes a valuable resource for schools, colleges and universities; and for anyone with an interest in contemporary art. Ultimately we want it to be used in interesting ways that engages people in conversations about art and the world around us.”
Baltic Archive includes hundreds of video and audio recordings, as well as thousands of images – collected by the team at Baltic. It captures insight and perspectives from exhibiting artists, curators, Baltic staff, community partners, and academics. The archive also features Baltic’s library catalogue of 15,000 books and more than 500 zines. Built-in accessibility features allow for the personalisation of display settings, including colour, contrast, size, translated language and audio recital of pages.
In addition to detailing all of Baltic’s exhibitions and collections from its 25-year-history, Baltic Archive also charts the building’s original use as part of the Rank Hovis flour mills complex, and the design and conversion process of the disused silo building into a contemporary art gallery.
Sarah continued: “I think one of the most exciting things about the archive is that it highlights all areas of the work we deliver at Baltic – including community outreach projects and learning and participation. It captures the depth and scope of Baltic’s practice, which is about creating a greater understanding of the world through outstanding, experimental and inspiring contemporary art.
“Everything we add to Baltic Archive is something people can use; it all has a purpose.”
To explore Baltic Archive, visit archive.baltic.art
Baltic Archive can be accessed in person by appointment only by emailing archive@balticmill.com. Baltic Library can also be accessed in-person at Baltic between 10:00-17:45 every Wednesday to Sunday.