Our site on Calton Hill is long associated with science, astronomy and timekeeping, as well as a place for art and close observation. Our Panorama programme takes inspiration from the origins of the panorama to explore how we see, move through and understand the city today.

In 1788, Irish artist Robert Barker created the first panorama – a 360-degree image capturing a continuous view of Edinburgh from Calton Hill. The original drawings were made by his son, Henry Aston Barker, from Observatory House – the oldest building on our site. Their work marks Calton Hill’s early connection to both scientific study and artistic innovation.

At the centre of our Hillside Gallery is a large-scale reproduction of the 1792 aquatint of Barker’s Panorama of Edinburgh, offering a rare and detailed view of the late 18th-century cityscape.

Continuing this legacy, we are inviting contemporary artists and audiences to respond to our site's histories and contexts. The gallery serves as a hub for reading, research, public events and activities.

We will be welcoming artists to undertake short residencies over late summer and autumn responding to the themes of the Panorama and resulting in public events.