"Start from the top. Where do we find ourselves? If you’ve spent the day exploring Hamilton’s shops and boutiques , it’ll be hard to miss the gleaming white building on the north end of town. That’s the Hamilton City Hall and Arts Centre, a cultural institution that’s not only the seat of the municipal government, but the home to the Bermuda National Gallery and a permanent collection of world-class art. Designed by Bermudian Wilfred Onions and first opened in 1960, the building is also where you’ll find the Earl Cameron Theatre, Bermuda’s main stage for prominent musical and theatrical productions. Before you go inside look up: Atop the 90-foot-tall clocktower is a bronze weathervane in the shape of the Sea Venture, the English sailing vessel that crashed upon Bermuda’s shores in 1609. Its survivors eventually founded this island nation. So what will we find inside? On the ground floor of City Hall you’ll find portraits of past City of Hamilton mayors and one of the island’s largest renderings of Queen Elizabeth—a painting that she reportedly was not at all pleased with. But the real draw is the Bermuda National Gallery on the second floor, where you’ll find the Watlington Collection with masterpieces from Gainsborough, Reynolds, and Murillo; the Bermuda Collection with paintings and decorative arts dating back to the 1600s; and the African Collection with masks, figurines, and sculpture. Photography is another mainstay of this museum, so don’t miss the black-and-white imagery from Bermudian photojournalist Richard Saunders or the walls of prints depicting African-American life. Are there any particularly good temporary exhibits? New exhibits rotate in every four to six weeks. In early 2021, the National Gallery put up the first-ever solo exhibition by the Bermudian artist Gherdai Hassell, exploring how slavery on the island impacted her own family. Past exhibitions have included multidisciplinary shows with vivid themes like loss or rebirth, walls of Pop Art from contemporary artists such as Banksy and Andy Warhol, and landscapes that depict the island’s natural beauty from some of its most prolific local painters (like Alfred Birdsey, whose watercolors are coveted among collectors). Who comes here? Art lovers who’d like to take a deeper dive into Bermuda’s vast collection and tourists who’ve wandered into Hamilton’s grandest building. And how easy is it to get around inside? The small second-floor gallery is modern, well-lit, and expertly curated. It’s also easily accessible—City Hall is equipped with an elevator. If we want to take a deeper dive, are there any tours worth checking out? If you’re looking for a guided tour, come on Thursday morning when a museum docent will lead you through the permanent collection and temporary exhibits. The free tours start at 10 a.m. and run for about half an hour. Any food options here? There’s no café onsite, but with so many options in the City of Hamilton, you won’t have to go very far for a cup of coffee or a bite to eat. If we're short on time, is this place still worth a stop? If you haven’t yet made it to the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art , which features the island’s largest collection of Bermuda-inspired artwork, have no fear. This gallery’s collection of Bermuda art is a close second. If you’re time-crunched, check out the myriad paintings celebrating the island’s rich culture and heritage." - David LaHuta
