The Dick Institute

The Dick Institute stands in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, as a public library, museum and art gallery. The building opened in 1901 after funds were provided by James Dick, who was born in the town. It suffered serious fire damage in 1909 but reopened in 1911 and later served as an auxiliary hospital during the First World War. The institute is recognised as Scotland’s finest municipal gallery and the largest museum and art gallery space in Ayrshire. It hosts nationally important exhibitions alongside permanent displays of its own collections. Major shows have featured Miffy, Quentin Blake, Wallace and Gromit and works by leading Scottish artists such as Christine Borland and Kenny Hunter. Visitors find the Main Gallery hosting touring exhibitions from partners including Tate and the Victoria and Albert Museum. The museum galleries include a replica of John Wilson’s printing press, which produced the first edition of Robert Burns’s poems. The South Museum and Loom Room tell local social history, while the North Museum wing displays natural history and archaeology collections. A lending library, cafe and learning centre occupy the ground floor.