The Laing Art Gallery was founded in 1901 after funds to build it were provided by Alexander Laing, a Newcastle businessman who had made his money from his wine and spirit shop and beer bottling business.

The gallery today is home to an internationally important collection of art, focusing on British oil paintings, watercolours, ceramics, silver and glassware. It holds regularly changing exhibitions of historic, modern and contemporary art, and events including artist and curator talks and family activities.