Image Caption: Montego Bay Cultural Centre, home of the National Gallery West, courtesy of Visit Jamaica website
National Gallery West
The National Gallery West is located in Jamaica’s second largest city, Montego Bay and is a satellite branch of the country’s national repository of art. This smaller but still note-worthy branch of the larger gallery found in Kingston is perfect for those who want to experience the works of talented Jamaican artists without having to visit the capital city. The gallery frequently hosts exhibitions that showcase the best in classic and contemporary Jamaican art as well as a diverse collection of both historical and cultural artifacts.
It can be found in the domed building at the back of the Montego Bay Cultural Centre (formerly known as the Montego Bay Civic Centre) on Sam Sharpe Square, a major cultural facility for the benefit of the people of Western Jamaica and tourist visitors alike. The National Museum Jamaica also operates a satellite branch at the Centre, with permanent and temporary exhibitions and supporting programmes.
The National Gallery West offers three exhibitions per year, of which at least one focuses on the art of Western Jamaica while others are based on exhibitions shown at the National Gallery of Jamaica in Kingston. Visitors can look forward to a lively and varied exhibition programme that covers all major aspects of Jamaican art, from the historic to the contemporary and from the traditional to the avant-garde.
Guided tours are available and educational programmes, including children’s art classes, are being developed. This gallery is located 5 minutes by car from the hotel. Visit them at www.montegobayculturalcentre.
COVID-19 ADVISORY
In keeping with the government’s strategy to prevent the spread of Covid-19, the Montego Bay Cultural Centre, home to the National Gallery West, will be closed to the public until further notice. Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the temporary closure of the museum since March 2020, the National Gallery West continues to enhance its online offerings in response through virtual tours, as well as to continue our exhibition programming and serve our communities virtually.