A tragic incident occurred at the renowned Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) in Glasgow when a 55-year-old man fell to his death from a balcony. The incident took place around 12.30pm on Wednesday at the art gallery situated in the city’s Royal Exchange Square.
Incident Details and Immediate Response
Emergency services, including an ambulance, a paramedic response unit, and a trauma team, were immediately dispatched to the scene. Despite their swift response, the man was pronounced dead at the scene by the emergency responders.
A Police Scotland spokesperson stated, “Around 12.30pm on Wednesday, September 11, we received a report that a man had fallen from height inside an art gallery on Royal Exchange Square.” The police have confirmed that there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.
Following the incident, GoMA was closed early for the rest of the day but is expected to reopen today as scheduled. A post on X (formerly known as Twitter) from the gallery read, “The Gallery of Modern Art has closed early today after a member of the public fell from a balcony. Emergency services are in attendance. The building will reopen as normal Thursday, September 12 at 10am.”
About the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA)
Glasgow’s Gallery of Modern Art is housed in a historical 19th-century neoclassical building, which was originally owned by ‘Tobacco Lord’ William Cunninghame. It first opened its doors to the public in 1996 and has since become one of the city’s most frequented attractions, drawing in more than 500,000 visitors annually.
The gallery gained significant attention last year when it hosted a Banksy exhibition, which broke box-office records with approximately 180,000 people attending over a 10-week period. Additionally, GoMA is well-known for the iconic Duke of Wellington statue outside the venue, which famously sports a traffic cone on its head.
While the gallery is typically a place of cultural enrichment and inspiration, this tragic incident has cast a shadow over its usual vibrant and energetic atmosphere. The entire community, along with the gallery’s staff, extends their deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.
As the Gallery of Modern Art prepares to open its doors again, it remains a pivotal institution in the promotion and exhibition of contemporary art in Scotland and across the globe. The enduring legacy of the gallery, coupled with its rich history, ensures that it will continue to be a beacon of culture and creativity even in the face of such a sorrowful event.
