The Shandong Art Museum is the province's main institution for contemporary Chinese art, with a large permanent collection and a programme of changing exhibitions covering painting, sculpture, installation, and applied arts. The building itself is a striking piece of contemporary architecture. The collection has particular strengths in ink painting and the work of artists with Shandong roots.
The museum is located in the Jinan Cultural District near the provincial government buildings on the east side of the city center. It is free to enter and generally less crowded than the provincial history museum, which makes it a good option for an afternoon when the main sights feel busy. The quality of individual exhibitions varies, but the building and grounds are worth a look regardless of what's showing.