Where to See Contemporary and Modern Art in Edinburgh

Whether you’re into left-field visual art, abstract painting, photography, sculpture, craft or design, there’s plenty to whet the appetite here – most offering free entry. From temporary pop-ups to resident showcases, we’ve got the lowdown on the most interesting and exciting spots to see contemporary and modern art in the city of Edinburgh. Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

This is the biggest and best-known modern art gallery in the city. It’s spread over two imposing Neoclassical buildings, Modern One and Modern Two, surrounded by arty landscaped grounds and a mini lake. Each comprises a mix of permanent and pop-up exhibitions. Entry is free, although some of the temporary exhibitions require visitors to buy a ticket. A shuttle bus runs between all of the Scottish National Gallery sites.

The City Art Centre is found opposite Waverley Station and the Edinburgh Dungeon. The expansive gallery takes up six floors and chiefly promotes Scottish art. There’s a regularly revolving feast of free design, craft, photography and applied art, as well as touring exhibitions. It’s part of the city’s Museums & Galleries network (so entry is free), and it also houses the kitsch Mimi’s Bakehouse on the ground floor.

Established in 1938 as a fruit and veg market, this space took on a new form showcasing home-grown art in 1974. The Fruitmarket Gallery commissions national and international artists and curators, focussing on projects involving new thinking. It continues to help discover and launch many talents such as Callum Innes and Claire Barclay and offers free entry to most of its displays. The airy café specialises in vegan treats and sits alongside its shop, selling some of the most eclectic and interesting reads and coffee table books in the city.

Stills is an intimate space tucked away in the Old Town centre. It exhibits photography and film (the latter in the on-site movie lounge) and has a history spanning four decades. The gallery’s projects provide a platform for both up-and-coming and established photographic artists, presenting three major exhibitions each year, in additions to smaller pop-up displays, all of which are free to view.

Conceived in 1912 as a tapestry studio, Dovecot has earned international acclaim as a craft, design and contemporary art centre. It specialises in handwoven tapestries and gun-tufted rugs, alongside temporary exhibitions that include work from well-known creators Grayson Perry, Matt Connors and Orla Kiely. Special events require tickets (concessions are available) and donations are encouraged, but visitors are free to wander in and out of the rest of Dovecot without paying a penny.

Take a short amble from the Royal Mile to discover international, diverse and award-winning art curated to appeal to a large audience. A showcase for collectables, many visit Urbane to buy, as well as browse. Catch screenings, artist talks and lectures in addition to its mixed and solo exhibitions. It’s a relative newcomer, having opened in 2014, but is fast gaining traction as an accessible go-to gallery.

Venture off the beaten tourist track, to the bohemian district of Leith. Over 80 artists create, design and make prints, textiles, jewellery, boxes and ceramics at Coburg House, a former granary building. It’s very much a community space, with open studios enabling visitors to watch art in the making, as well as pottering around the monthly hyper-local exhibitions. There’s also a shop selling many of the in-house wares.

A noticeable landmark, just a little away from the main city, Edinburgh Palette is housed in a high-rise office block, emblazoned with the word ART. It’s a melting pot of culture, with open studios, resident makers and performance artists. The galleries here range from large to small, housing pop-up grass-roots exhibitions from the nearby Leith School of Art, Edinburgh College of Art and other local creators.