The Baltic Arts Museum

The Baltic Flour Mill was built by Rank Hovis to a late-1930s design by architects Gelder and Kitchen and completed in 1950. It was extended in 1957 by the addition of an animal feed mill. The mill was closed in 1981.  It was one of a number of mills located along the banks of the Tyne, all of which, due to their size, were prominent local landmarks. The Spillers mill just downstream from the Baltic on the north bank of the river was demolished in 2011. Another large mill was owned by the CWS and was located just upstream of Dunston Staithes.

Dominic Williams of Ellis Williams Architects won an architectural design competition, managed by RIBA Competitions, in the mid-1990s to convert the 1950s Baltic Flour Mill into a centre for art. After ten years in the planning and a capital investment of £50m, including £33.4m from the Arts Council Lottery Fund, Baltic opened to the public at midnight on Saturday 13 July 2002. The inaugural exhibition, B.OPEN, had work by Chris Burden, Carsten Holler, Julian Opie, Jaume Plensa and Jane and Louise Wilson and attracted over 35,000 visitors in the first week. An early exhibit of the Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara, a Japanese girl, can be seen in the window of the east elevation.

Description courtesy of Wikipedia.






2nd July 2021


A reflection in the river Tyne of the top of half of The Baltic The Baltic reflected in the River Tyne




15th December 2020


The viewing platform of The Baltic




21st September 2020







3rd August 2020



The Baltic alongside the Millennium and Tyne Bridges





28th May 2020


The letters 'J. Rank Ltd.' on the top of the eastern side of the Baltic

The letters 'Baltic Flour Mills' around the top of the north side of the Baltic







23rd July 2019










16th December 2018


The upper half of The Baltic with Byker in the background






29th June 2018


A reflection of The Baltic in the River Tyne





20th September 2017










18th July 2017








15th September 2016








21st April 2015








2nd July 2014








26th June 2014


The Baltic Arts Museum with the winding Hillgate and South Shore Road in the foreground






8th June 2014







16th January 2012







16th June 2010







29th October 2009







17th March 2009








2nd December 2008








16th October 2008










24th March 2008








10th May 2006








11th April 2006








10th February 2006








19th January 2006








22nd August 2005







More Information:
See my other photos around Gateshead Quayside:

2 comments:

Just Somebody said...

I've just seen the poll for this place on this site and I have to say that I can't understand the negativity. Most of the people I know that have been there seem to have found something to like. Even if they don't like every exhibition on every visit they'll chance on something they do enjoy at some point.

I wonder if folks are going once and not going back when other things are on? Maybe they're not even going at all and are judging on what they think it's like ?

Very odd indeed.....

stevo said...

Yeah , often its full of rubbish but theres sometimes good stuff. Plus its worth going in for the view from the top . And best of all its free !