16 May - 4 October 2026
2 Market Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1DE
City Art Centre's website
 
 
 

 

  • 16 May - 4 October 2026 Jean F. Watson: An Artistic Legacy An exhibition of historic and contemporary Scottish artworks...

    Elizabeth Blackadder, Irises, 1982. © Royal Scottish Academy. All Rights Reserved 2026 Bridgeman Images. City of Edinburgh Council Museums & Galleries.
    16 May - 4 October 2026
    Jean F. Watson: An Artistic Legacy
    An exhibition of historic and contemporary Scottish artworks acquired through the Jean F. Watson Bequest Fund
     
    Jean Fletcher Watson (1877-1974) was an Edinburgh resident who had a significant impact on the city’s cultural heritage. During the 1960s and 1970s she presented a series of financial donations to the City of Edinburgh to develop a collection of Scottish art. Since then, the Jean F. Watson Bequest Fund has enabled the acquisition of more than 1,000 artworks.

    This exhibition celebrates Watson’s vision and generosity, showcasing a selection of historic and contemporary artworks from the collection. Among the artists represented are many with links to the Royal Scottish Academy, including William Fettes Douglas PPRSA, Arthur Melville ARSA, Charles Hodge Mackie RSA, Anne Redpath RSA, Eric Schilsky RSA, Joan Eardley RSA, James Cumming RSA, Elizabeth Blackadder RSA, Will Maclean RSA, Alison Watt RSA and Leena Nammari RSA.
     
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  • 18 July - 13 September 2026 Study for North Bridge | Rachel McBrinn & Jonathan Webb Study for North Bridge...

    Rachel McBrinn & Jonathan Webb, Study for North Bridge, 2026, video still. Courtesy the artists

    18 July - 13 September 2026

    Study for North Bridge | Rachel McBrinn & Jonathan Webb

     

    Study for North Bridge is a new moving image commission from artists Rachel McBrinn and Jonathan Webb which responds to Edinburgh’s North Bridge. Following in a tradition of artworks commissioned by the city to document and commemorate one of Edinburgh’s most historically significant landmarks, the film places the bridge’s current restoration in its historical context, from its original build in the 1760s and the political and social backdrop of the developing city around it.

     

    This work is part of a series of arts legacy projects commissioned by the City of Edinburgh Council on the occasion of the North Bridge refurbishment.

     

    Rachel McBrinn was awarded a RSA John Kinross Scholarship in 2014 and  RSA Residency for Scotland Artist with Edinburgh Printmakers & RSA Collections, both in 2015
  • About City Art Centre

    City Art Centre - Out of Chaos 2025-2026, photo Ian Georgeson

    About City Art Centre

    The City Art Centre is an impressive nine-storey former warehouse located in the heart of Edinburgh, close to Waverley Station. Originally constructed between 1899 and 1902, as part of the Scotsman newspaper buildings, it was converted into a gallery in 1980. The City Art Centre’s aim is to champion historic and contemporary Scottish visual and applied arts. It is the flagship visual arts venue for Culture Edinburgh, part of the City of Edinburgh Council, hosting a vibrant programme of temporary exhibitions and events. It is also home to the City of Edinburgh’s nationally Recognised collection of Scottish art, which is displayed on a rotating basis.

     

     
    Facebook - @City.Art.Centre.CAC
    Instagram - @museumsgalleriesedinburgh
     

    Banner image: View of City Art Centre from North Bridge, photo by Andrew Lee