The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art is located on the south bank of the River Tyne alongside the Gateshead Millennium Bridge. BALTIC opened on Saturday 13 July 2002 and welcomed 2.5 million visitors during its first 5 years alone.
Construction began in 1998 with only the south and north facades of the original 1950’s building retained. A new structure consisting of six main floors was secured between the walls. This is the main stairwell connecting the floors made up of 203 steps. The building now contains four galleries, a flexible performance space, artists’ studios, a lecture theatre and the spectacular rooftop restaurant.?