Glasgow used to be known as the second city of the British Empire with its elegant and impressive architecture.

Add the unique style of Glasgow's most famous architect, Charles Rennie Mackintosh and you can start to see why the city itself is a visual feast. In recent years, Glasgow has become just as well known for its festivals, fashion and visual arts. There really is something going on all year round to suit art lovers of all tastes.

Glasgow International

The Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art runs from 19 April-1 May 2006. Now in its second year, there will be exhibitions, seminars, artist talks and many other events. Councillor Alex Mosson, Chairman of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, explains the appeal of the festival: "Glasgow's contemporary art scene is one of the most vibrant in the world and Glasgow International provides the perfect opportunity to highlight it. The programme is both challenging and exciting, and will undoubtedly reinforce our credentials as Glasgow: Scotland with style."

Glasgow Art Fair

Another great visual arts festival running from 6-9-April 2006 is the Glasgow Art Fair. It offers the general public an opportunity to view and buy a wide range of quality art works. Over 40 selected galleries will be showing work by well known names and exciting new artists in the Main Pavilion. Highlights for this year's event include the return of the hugely successful Talking Art programme and the Give Art a Go practical drawing sessions.

Glasgow School of Art

If you are in Glasgow, don't miss the chance to visit one of the UK's best-known centres of art, the Glasgow School of Art (GSA), in the heart of the city.

Founded in 1845, the school soon became renowned throughout the UK for the study and advancement of fine art, design and architecture. GSA graduates can be found all over the world, practicing as artists, working for famous companies and adding to the growing list of alumni who are making a major contribution to the world of contemporary fine art and winning international acclaim.

GSA has produced many of Scotland's most famous artists including:

The Glasgow Boys (1870s) Joseph Crawhill, James Guthrie, George Henry and E A Horne, famous for painting Glasgow and Ayrshire countryside.
The Scottish Colourists (1920s-30s) famous for putting a Scottish twist on the French style of the period.
Joan Eardley (1921-1963) who is famous for painting street urchins and later villages and seascapes.

Charles Rennie Mackintosh

Most people associate Charles Rennie Mackintosh with the Glasgow School of Art. Mackintosh is one of Scotland's most famous designers, artists and architects of the late 19th and early 20th century. He designed the main building of the Glasgow School of Art as well as the Glasgow Herald Building, Daily Record Building, Willow Tearooms, Scotland Street School, Queens Cross Church and Ruchill Free Church Halls. Many of Mackintosh's buildings still survive and can be visited throughout the city of Glasgow at any time of year.He continues to influence people all over the world with his simple, elegant designs many of which are reproduced on jewellery.

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