Shipley Art Gallery

First opened to the public in 1917, this establishment came about because of a quest from local solicitor Joseph Ainsley Davidson Shipley (1822-1909). A fanatical collector of painting, Shipley had, by the time of his demise, a collection totalling 2,500 items. Furthermore, he also left £30,000 and his collection to the City of Newcastle stipulation that a gallery be built to house his pictures. Unusually, he apparently purposely omitted that the already existent Laing Art Gallery should not benefit from his legacy. This exclusion clause led to a public debate resulting in Newcastle rejecting the legacy. Gateshead were then offered and accepted the bequest but only chose 500 specially selected artworks. The balance of the 'Shipley Bequest' as it became known was sold and the resultant income was used to finance the building which now has listed building status.

The collection has expanded enormously and now houses more than 10,000 items and in 2008, the Shipley opened its new Designs for Life gallery which showcases the gallery's collections of contemporary craft and design. Arguably the gallery's most important painting is the 'Blaydon Races' by local artist William Irving. The Shipley along with the Hatton Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne, Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland Museum and Art Gallery fall under the all encompassing Tyne and Wear Archives & Museums.