Meffan Museum and Art Gallery
Meffan Museum and Art Gallery
The Meffan Museum and Art Gallery collects objects, photographs and archive material relating to the history of Forfar together with the work of past and contemporary artists reflecting the rich art heritage of Angus.
The collection consists of several thousand objects, paintings and drawings gifted or bequeathed to the museum.
Another two galleries explore “The Forfar Story” from the time of Pictish artistic endeavour. A stunning collection of Pictish Stones are displayed to best advantage so both front and rear of these enigmatic sculptured stones can be closely examined. Models of two archaeologists can be seen excavating a log canoe dated to the 11th century.
The visitor can next wander through time down an old narrow cobbled street called The Vennel. They can peer into a knockmaker’s workshop (clocks), see linen being woven by a weaver, watch the shoemaker busy mending and making boots and shoes and drool over bread and, of course, bridies at the bakers. The last shop on the street is Peter Reid’s sweetie shop with its famed Forfar Rock. Finally the visitor steps into a crowd staring in awe and horror at a witch about to be strangled and burnt.
Forfar had a dark period in its history where several women were accused of witchcraft.
The Art Gallery
The Meffan is Angus Council’s flagship gallery where two galleries are devoted to art exhibitions. Over the years The Meffan has established an excellent reputation for the quality and range of the exhibitions it shows.
The main gallery on the ground floor hosts approximately ten exhibitions per year showing the best of contemporary Scottish art from local, national and international artists. There is a diverse programme of exhibitions featuring the work of established artists and recent graduates including painters, sculptors, printmakers, photographers and installation artists, and an annual open exhibition which attracts entries from all over Scotland.
Past exhibitions include such eminent names as William Littlejohn, Will Maclean, Ian McKenzie-Smith, James Morrison, David Mach and The Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour (RSW).
