The Dick Institute
The Dick Institute has been described as Scotland’s finest municipal gallery, featuring the largest exhibition spaces in Scotland south of Glasgow with a carefully selected programme of displays to rival any of our city counterparts.
The building now boasts a tearoom serving barista coffee and sweet treats, making the Dick Institute a must visit destination in Ayrshire.
The Main Gallery plays host to world class touring exhibitions through our partnerships with national institutions such as TATE, the Design Museum, National Galleries Scotland, the Victoria and Albert Museum and Seven Stories in bringing household name exhibitions including Quentin Blake, Gerhard Richter, Michael Morpurgo, Bricktropolis (Lego), Miffy and Wallace and Gromit. The Dick Institute also proudly exhibits an ambitious range of temporary exhibitions hosting large scale shows and new commissions from Scotland’s leading contemporary visual artists including Christine Borland, Nathan Coley, Kenny Hunter, Rachel Maclean and Graham Fagen as well as works by applied artists Simon Ward and Timorous Beasties.
Our museum galleries show a range of semi-permanent exhibitions which highlight East Ayrshire’s social and natural science heritage through our varied collections. One of the most visited items on display is the replica of John Wilson’s printing press which printed the first book of Robert Burns’ poems – Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect – more famously known as The Kilmarnock Edition. Must see items include original Burns manuscripts which are on rotation and include, Tam O’Shanter, The Twa Dogs and The Cottar’s Saturday Night. You can also view rare items from the Johnnie Walker Archive, some on display for the first time.
Our exhibitions welcome more than 130,000 visitors each year, and 4700 people take part in one or more of our many events and workshops which accompany the programme. Schools and groups are welcome by appointment, and a full and varied engagement programme is ongoing throughout the year.
There really is something for everyone at The Dick Institute.
Venue Details
-
Contact Details
Elmbank Avenue
Kilmarnock
KA1 3BU
Enquiries:
Call 01563 554300
info@eastayrshireleisure.com
For School Or Groups:
info@eastayrshireleisure.com -
Opening Hours
- Sunday: CLOSED
- Monday: CLOSED
- Tuesday: 10.00am - 6.00pm
- Wednesday: 10.00am - 6.00pm
- Thursday: 1.00pm - 8.00pm
- Friday: 10.00am - 4.00pm
- Saturday: 10.00am - 4.00pm
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Facilities
- Wheelchair Access
- Disabled Toilet Facilities
- Car Parking
- Lift Access
- Available for Hire
- Cafe
- Car parking nearby
- Baby Changing Facilities
- Toilets
Venue Details
-
Contact Details
Elmbank Avenue
Kilmarnock
KA1 3BU
Enquiries:
Call 01563 554300
info@eastayrshireleisure.com
For School Or Groups:
info@eastayrshireleisure.com -
Opening Hours
- Sunday: CLOSED
- Monday: CLOSED
- Tuesday: 10.00am - 6.00pm
- Wednesday: 10.00am - 6.00pm
- Thursday: 1.00pm - 8.00pm
- Friday: 10.00am - 4.00pm
- Saturday: 10.00am - 4.00pm
-
Facilities
- Wheelchair Access
- Disabled Toilet Facilities
- Car Parking
- Lift Access
- Available for Hire
- Cafe
- Car parking nearby
- Baby Changing Facilities
- Toilets
For Sat Nav
The postcode is KA1 3BU. The venue is signposted once you are in Kilmarnock and there is car parking around the venue. Alternatively there is town centre parking and the Dick Institute is a 5 minute walk from the centre of town.
Arriving by Train
Exit the train station and cross the road ahead, bear left along West George St, turn right at Gala Bingo and proceed down the pedestrian precinct to The Cross. Look diagonally to the left and you will see Burns Mall. Make your way across the mall, exit the glass doors and proceed through the underpass to the venue on the corner of Green Street and London Road where you will see the Palace Theatre. From here walk up London Road, past the Grand Hall and the Dick Institute is a 5 min walk.
Arriving by Bus
Exit the bus station at the south side either through the mall (turn right into the mall then left to the bottom of the mall and left again to exit the mall and proceed through the underpass). Alternatively exit through the perspex tunnel in the bus station and cross Green Street where you will see the Palace Theatre. From here walk up London Road, past the Grand Hall and the Dick Institute is a 5 min walk.