2018 will see a year-long programme of events taking place in Glasgow to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. 

Exhibitions, seminars and tours will take place across the city and further afield to celebrate the legacy and creative genius of Glasgow's great cultural icon.

Highlights of Mackintosh 150 include a major exhibition at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum as well as the re-opening of Mackintosh at the Willow, Miss Cranston's original Tea Rooms in Sauchiehall Street in the city centre. The Glasgow School of Art, The Hunterian at the University of Glasgow, House for An Art Lover and the new V&A Dundee will all play host to dedicated event and exhibition programmes.

Born in Glasgow on 7 June 1868, Charles Rennie Mackintosh went on to be regarded as one of the most creative figures of the 20th century and a leading figure in both the Scottish Arts and Crafts Movement and European Art Nouveau. An architect, designer and artist, Mackintosh left a legacy of magnificent work and is considered one of the principal exponents of the Glasgow Style. 

Glasgow is home to the world's pre-eminent collection of Mackintosh buildings, drawings and designs, which can be explored at venues across the city as well as at two key attractions in nearby Helensburgh.

The exhibition at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum will showcase works by Rennie Mackintosh and his contemporaries. Many of the works will be on display for the first time in a generation, while others will be given their first public appearance.

Alison Brown, curator with Glasgow Museums, said: “Charles Rennie Mackintosh is rightly celebrated around the world as one of the most creative figures of the 20th Century. He is regarded as the father of Glasgow Style, arguably Britain’s most important contribution to the international Art Nouveau movement. I am thrilled Glasgow Museums will join in a city-wide celebration with an exhibition commemorating one of their most famous sons.”

Janet Redler, Chief Executive of Janet Redler Travel & Tourism, added: “We are really looking forward to seeing some of the many exhibitions and activities planned for 2018 to celebrate the incredible architecture and design of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. His unique artistic talent rightly deserves to be recognised worldwide and we would urge visitors to Scotland to experience his work first-hand, in Glasgow and beyond.”

As well as commemorating his remarkable achievements, Mackintosh 150 provides a focal point in safeguarding Mackintosh legacy for future generations, inspiring more young people to take an interest in art and design and promoting the unique portfolio for visitors and tourists.

If you or your group would like to enjoy a tailor-made tour of Glasgow and Scotland, exploring the artistic legacy of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, please do contact our friendly team today.