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The Arnolfini Arts Centre in a converted tea warehouse

The funky Arnolfini cafe bar

The Architecture Centre holds exhibitions about the built envionment

The Watershed Centre - cafes, restaurants, cinema and meeting place for media types

Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery for more traditional arts

Bristol's modern city centre is peppered with public art

The Harbourside area of Bristol is the place to meet

Innovative displays around Bristol City Centre

Art Galleries Bristol Contemporary Arts

Bristol is renowned for being a centre for contemporary and media arts. This is certainly echoed in the attractions of the city - many of which are linked to the arts in one way or another. For art buffs you'll be in heaven with contemporary arts centres like the Arnolfini and Spike Island Artspace or for immersing yourself in the arts social centre head off to the Watershed for films and food. More traditional art exhibitions can be seen at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery or the Royal West of England Academy of Arts in Clifton.

Bristol prides itself in having spawned a variety of contemporary artists in a variety of media. These range from social commentator graffiti artist Banksy to the more cuddly animations from Aardman Animations who have been based in Bristol since the 1970s. The wealth of talent and ability to attract works from all over the world is evident in the many art galleries in the city.

Bristol Contemporary Arts - Banksy Graffiti Artist

The graffiti artist, Banksy, hails from Bristol and caused heated debate as to weather his graffiti, often accompanied with amusing satirical messages, was art or vandalism. Thankfully Bristolians and the city council support all forms of art and many of his works have been kept around Bristol with only the odd mishap where it has been removed or painted over by accident. Many of his pictures are painted using stencils although no-one really knows how he does it or his identity.

Check out the Ghost Sailor on the hull of the Thelka Social boat moored in the harbour. Banksy painted this after having previously painted his name on the boat which was painted over allegedly by the Harbour Master much to the disgruntlement of the owner of the Thelka. He threatened to sue as he'd quite liked Banksy's work.

One of his latest works is on the wall of the sexual health clinic on Park Street where the Naked Man hangs out of the window to avoid being seen by the recently returned hubby who is peering out of the window while a shocked wife looks on in horror. Keep your eyes peeled as you walk round Bristol as you can easily miss his work. The sniper with child above shops opposite the Children's Hospital is another that has appeared recently, although there is some debate as to whether it's one of Banksy's as it's not tagged.

Check the links right for a guide to some of his graffiti around Bristol.

Arnolfini Contemporary Arts Centre

The Arnolfini Arts Centre is in one of Bristol's first "Bristol Byzantine" style buildings, that was used as a tea warehouse, on the harbourfront. This has been converted to accommodate one of Europe's leading centres for the contemporary arts. It houses several art galleries, a cinema and space for live arts and dance. A regular array of exhibitions, film, dance, music and literature are hosted in the Centre. Entry to the galleries is free so you can easily pop in to view the latest exhibitions that include a range of innovative installations to convey a variety of messages. Staff are on hand to help interpret the more obscure exhibits!

The Centre was established as an educational charity in 1961 and aimed to showcase challenging works often from relatively unknown artists. The centre has an access and education programme and often organises educational family events to explore the arts. The cinema presents a regular programme of independent arthouse and foreign films as well as screening artists' films.

When you're in need of refreshment there is a funky, colourful cafe/bar with outdoor seating and you can browse the specialist arts bookshop.

Check out their website for up-to-date events and exhibition information, link right. Arnolfini, 16 Narrow Quay, Bristol BS1 4QA. Tel: 0117 917 2300. Fax: 0117 917 2303. Email: boxoffice@arnolfini.org.uk.

The Architecture Centre Bristol

Just next to the Arnolfini Centre is the small but attractive Architecture Centre. This is an independently run centre which aims to promote and explore the built environment which seems entirely fitting given Bristol's historic buildings that are now interspersed with a range of interesting modern buildings resulting from regeneration of the city.

The Architecture Centre was established by the charity the Bristol Centre for the Advancement of Architecture. The centre hosts a wide range of exhibitions, guided tours, visits, discussions, workshops and lectures as well as working with schools and colleges. These centres are common in the USA and Europe and have started to become established in the UK over recent years. Bristol's Architecture Centre is one of the first to be established outside London. Through exhibiting a range of architecture based events the centre aims to promote better architecture that enhances people's lives and to help people understand what makes good architecture thereby increasing the demand for excellence in quality and design.

Throughout the year a range of exhibitions and events are held and there is a shop stocking books on architecture and interior design, gifts, jewellery and toys. Recent exhibitions include "Natural Revival" which examines how sustainable products can be used in construction projects and whether these materials offer alternatives making construction a much more environmentally friendly industry.

Check their website for detail of current exhibitions and events, link right. The Architecture Centre, Narrow Quay, Bristol BS1 4QA. Tel: 0117 922 1540. Fax: 0117 922 1541. Email: info@architecturecentre.co.uk

Watershed Media Centre Bristol

Across the water on Bristol's Harbourside is the Watershed Media Centre which promotes creativity, innovation and talent through a range of films shown it its three cinemas and a range of events held in a series of spaces open as studios and meeting and conference venues.

The Victorian warehouses have been converted into a media arts centre that is designed to facilitate exchange, networking and enjoyment by providing a range of meeting places where wi-fi internet access helps make it an excellent location for formal meetings or creative working. The annual Encounters Short Film Festivals are held at the Watershed.

The Watershed Caf/bar is located in a loft space within the Watershed complex with excellent views across the harbour and has become something of a social centre in the dockside area.

Watershed, 1 Canon's Road, Harbourside, Bristol BS1 5TX. Box Office: 0117 927 5100. Email: info@watershed.co.uk

Spike Island Artspace

Spike Island at Cumberland Basin in Bristol's historic harbourside is the national centre for the production and exhibition of contemporary visual art. It houses a range of artists' studios and exhibition space for the making and showing of new works. For a list of artists currently housed at Spike Island and details of current exhibitions check the Spike Island website, link right.

Spike Island has recently undergone some refurbishment which has improved gallery facilities in which a programme of exhibition and events are planned throughout the year. There is also a cafe, Spike Canteen, on site. Spike Island is open all week between 9am-5pm.

Spike Island, 133 Cumberland Road, Bristol BS1 6UX. Tel: 0117 929 2266. Fax: 0117 929 2066. Email: admin@spikeisland.org.uk

Royal West of England Academy of Arts

The Royal West of England Academy of Arts is one of the five Royal Academies of Art in the UK. It is housed in a grand Grade II listed building in Clifton in Bristol's West End.

The permanent fine art collection started from a bequest to the Academy by Ellen Sharples in 1849. It contains paintings by nineteenth century artists and has grown by additions from artist members through the twentieth century to the present day. A range of paintings, sculptures and photographs are exhibited in five naturally lit galleries and the New Gallery. The RWA holds two open exhibitions every year: one that showcases sculpture, painting or printmaking, the second, the Autumn Exhibition, comprises mixed disciplines from both national and international artists.

Check the RWA's website to view some of the collection on the Online Archive and to find out more about current exhibitions. The Academy also houses a shop and caf and many of the exhibitions have art for sale. The gallery can also be hired for lectures, meetings and launches.

Open Mon-Sat 10am-5.30pm. Sun 2-5pm. Royal West of England Academy of Arts, Queens Road, Clifton, West End, Bristol BS8 1PX. Tel: 0117 973 5129. Fax: 0117 923 7874. Email: info@rwa.org.uk

Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery

Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery is in a grand Edwardian Baroque building near the University on Queens Road. The museum collections range from archaeology, natural history and the lately opened Egyptian Gallery. Check our museums webpage for more information.

The Museum also houses a range of works from Old Masters, French School painters, British art, Modern Art and the Bristol School of Art. There are also exhibits of Eastern Art, ceramics, silverware and glassware. Several galleries on the top floor

The Museum also organises a range of workshops, children's holiday activities, family fun days, summer walks, arts and crafts sessions and winter lectures. Check their website for more details. There is also a museum cafe and shop.

Open 7 days a week, 10am-5pm. Admission is free. Bristol City Museum & Art Gallery, Queens Road, West End, Bristol BS8 1RL. Tel: 0117 922 3571. Fax: 0117 922 2047. Email: general.museum@bristol.gov.uk

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