Aberdeen’s iconic Bon Accord Baths, a Category B listed Art Deco swimming complex, is set to host a significant new art installation by London-based artist Tod Hanson. Titled “DIVERS,” the unique artwork will be publicly unveiled this weekend, 5th and 6th September 2026, as a highlight of Scotland’s annual Doors Open Days festival. The installation marks another temporary cultural activation for the historic venue, which is currently undergoing a substantial community-led restoration effort.
The 40-yard (approximately 36.5-metre) main pool, currently devoid of water, provides a dramatic backdrop for Hanson’s ambitious creation. Made from painted rolls of wall lining paper, the artwork was meticulously produced in the artist’s studio to a numbered plan before being assembled and taped directly to the pool’s surfaces on site.
Describing the installation, Hanson’s statement explains: “DIVERS is a temporary art installation by London based artist Tod Hanson.” The artwork “uses the pool’s racing lanes to imagine journeys, with pattern forms that evolve along the length of the pool. These journeys are suggestive of how we move forward in a modern world of rules and limits, how we shape and are shaped, grow and adapt, conform and rebel, unite to win.” The themes align with Hanson’s established artistic practice, which frequently explores industrialism, nature, architecture, and mapping, often reflecting “a world over-amplified and speeding up” through large-scale graphic installations and public artworks.
The public will have the opportunity to view “DIVERS” from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, 6th September, and from 12pm to 5pm on Sunday, 6th September. Further viewing dates include 11am to 2pm on 12th, 13th, 19th, and 20th September 2026. The opening weekend will also feature live soundtracks from six local music groups on Saturday, 5th September, enriching the immersive experience for visitors.
A Landmark in Transition
Bon Accord Baths, originally known as the Uptown Baths, opened in August 1940 and quickly became a cherished civic amenity, renowned for its Art Deco design by the Aberdeen City Architect’s Department. Its distinctive features include a chunky granite exterior giving way to an elegant entrance lobby lined with blond ripple sycamore timber panelling, a vaulted roof supported by concrete arches, and spectator seating for 1,000. However, the facility was permanently closed in March 2008 by Aberdeen City Council as part of budget cuts, with the council citing high operating costs. The building is currently listed on the Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland, highlighting the urgency of preservation efforts.
The current installation builds upon a burgeoning trend of repurposing disused historic swimming pools as vibrant cultural spaces. Notable examples across the UK include the Grade II listed Edwardian Moseley Road Baths in Birmingham, which hosts events and fundraising activities during its ongoing restoration, and the Goldsmiths Centre for Contemporary Art in London, housed within a Victorian baths complex. This adaptive reuse not only draws visitors but also generates crucial revenue and public engagement for extensive heritage projects.
Bon Accord Heritage: Driving Community-Led Restoration
The regeneration of Bon Accord Baths is spearheaded by Bon Accord Heritage (BAH), a registered charity established in 2015. Formed from a public campaign to prevent the site’s commercial sale, BAH is dedicated to restoring and reopening the facility as a community-owned and operated resource for swimming and broader community use, while meticulously preserving its original Art Deco grandeur.
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The charity has made significant strides, securing a License to Occupy from the Council in 2020 and undertaking essential roof repairs to make the building wind and watertight. Funding has been sourced from a combination of grants, including a Project Viability Grant from the Architectural Heritage Fund, support from the National Lottery Community Fund, and substantial public donations, raising over £20,000 through crowdfunding and merchandise sales. While a definitive reopening date remains unconfirmed due to the project’s complexity, BAH continues to develop comprehensive plans, including exploring energy-efficient solutions like photovoltaic panels and LED lighting, and utilising ancillary spaces for a café, sports hall, and wellness facilities.
This event also follows another successful artistic intervention earlier this year: Robert Montgomery’s lightwork display, “Even After All This Time the Sun Never Says to the Earth ‘You Owe Me’,” which launched Nuart Aberdeen 2026. Nuart Aberdeen, a multi-award-winning street art festival, is recognised globally for transforming the city’s urban landscape with world-class art and embracing themes such as “Poetry Is In The Streets” for its 2026 edition. Montgomery’s 11-metre illuminated poem, inspired by 14th-century poet Hafez Shirazi, captivated audiences as the festival’s first indoor installation, highlighting migration and Persian culture.
By hosting installations like “DIVERS” and Montgomery’s lightwork, Bon Accord Baths continues to solidify its role as a cultural hub during its restoration, drawing attention to its architectural heritage and the ongoing efforts to secure its future for generations of Aberdonians. The “Heritage at Risk: Revive, Resist, Reimagine” theme of this year’s Doors Open Days perfectly encapsulates the journey of this beloved Aberdeen landmark.
