Carnegie Art Museum

About Carnegie Art Museum

The Carnegie Art Museum, officially known as the Carnegie Art Gallery, is a public art institution located in the Newcastle CBD of KwaZulu-Natal. Constructed in 1915 with funding from the Carnegie Corporation, the Edwardian-style building originally served as the town's municipal library before being declared a National Monument and officially opening as a public art gallery in 1991.

As the primary art museum for the northern region of the province, it preserves a permanent collection of contemporary South African art, fine art textiles, and traditional Zulu material culture, including historic beadwork, pottery, and wood carvings. The museum also actively supports regional craft production through community initiatives like the Isiphethu embroidery project and maintains an on-site shop that displays locally made items for visitors.