The administrative headquarters, exhibition spaces and depository of works from the collection of Central Slovak Gallery are housed in Bethlen House. The temporary exhibitions, presenting works not only from the gallery collection but also borrowed works from renowned art collections and studios are held in this building. Special educational exhibitions are organised for general public every autumn. From 2006 to 2008, a permanent exhibition of Slovak Graphic Arts of the 20th Century from the Central Slovak Gallery collection was opened to the public here. Today the entrance foyer and the exhibition space on the ground floor are also used for cultural events and presentations, as well as for drawing courses. The exhibition spaces on the first floor, vaulted with historical vaults, have retained their genius loci specific for the historical time period. The underground space is adapted to drawing workshops for group of visitors. In the rear section of the building, there is a public library with books, primarily focused on the visual art.
Bethlen House is originally a tower style burgher building from the end of the 14th century, to which was later added another storeyed house. The biggest changes were made around 1610, when the space in the front part of ground floor (maashaus) and the rooms on the first floor were vaulted with groin vaults. Latin inscription on the portal says: BENEDICTIO DOMINI DIVITES FACIT 1610 (The Lord’s blessing brings wealth). In the second half of the 18th century, the building was altered and extended in Baroque style and new spaces have been created. The building bears the name of the Prince of Transylvania, Gabriel Bethlen, who rose up against the Austro-Hungarian Emperor and occupied the territory of present Slovakia in the first half of 17th century. It is said that while staying in Banská Bystrica in 1620, he was elected king of Hungary in this house. However the anti-Habsburg revolt he led was suppressed and Bethlen had to give up the royal crown. Several prominent burghers lived here in the course of time such as Dr. Jan Reull, Jan Roth or Jan Radvanský.