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Birnam Arts Open Mic Night at Birnam Arts
Fri 10 Jul
Birnam Arts Open Mic Night
19:30 - 22:00
Doors Open 19:00

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Beatrix Potter Exhibition

Open

Daily
10:30 - 15:30
Last Entry 3pm

 

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Beatrix Potter™
Perthshire Experience

Discover the extraordinary story of Beatrix Potter and her enduring links to Highland Perthshire through the Beatrix Potter™ Perthshire Experience at Birnam Arts.
Discover the extraordinary story of Beatrix Potter and her enduring links to Highland Perthshire through the Beatrix Potter™ Perthshire Experience at Birnam Arts.
 
Celebrating the 160th anniversary of her birth, this experience combines our permanent exhibition with the newly reimagined Garden Trail, offering fresh insight into the places, people and wildlife that shaped her life and work.
 
Explore the exhibition to uncover Beatrix’s ties to Birnam and Dunkeld, from childhood summers in Perthshire to her remarkable work as an artist, storyteller and naturalist.
 
Your ticket also includes access to the Garden Trail, plus a guidebook or children’s activity book, all for £5 per person aged 5 and over (under 4s and carers free).

Beatrix Potter's Connection with Perthshire

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Born into a wealthy London family in 1866, Beatrix had a privileged yet lonely upbringing. As a child she became interested in the natural world and spent much of her time drawing and sketching.. Untamed childhood summers spent in Perthshire nurtured her creativity.

These long summer breaks with her family in Dalguise, on the River Tay – usually from July to the end of the salmon season in October ­– started when Beatrix was quite young, and continued for a decade, into her mid-teens. It was during this time that she was free to explore the countryside around her, indulging her interest in the natural world. It was this time that was to be one of the most enduring influences on Beatrix's development, both as an artist and scientist.

Even when the family summered in the Lake District, Beatrix visited Dalguise in 1884 with her father. 

It was in 1892, while the family was at Heath Park in Birnam, that Beatrix first met Charles Macintosh, postman for the Dalguise postal district. Beatrix's interest had turned to mycology, the study of fungi, and it was this shared interest which brought Beatrix Potter and Charles Macintosh together for the first time.Charles’ occupation was an ideal one for a budding natural historian, his daily walks delivering mail allowing him to study the local flora and fauna.

They had both been aware of the other’s interest in fungi, each approaching the topic from a different perspective: Charles, in his 50s, more scientific, and Beatrix, in her mid 20s, both scientific and aesthetic. This meeting led to a long collaborative correspondence which greatly benefited both. 

In 1893, while staying in Eastwood House in Dunkeld, Beatrix wrote a 'picture letter' to the young son of her former governess. The letter became the basis for her first book 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit'. Similarly, a later book 'The Tale of Jeremy Fisher' also started life as a picture letter with characters clearly based on her study and exploration on the banks of the River Tay. Additionally, The tale of Mrs Tiggy Winkle'  is thought to be inspired by the Potters' washer woman at Dalguise, Kitty MacDonald of Inver.

Peter Rabbit Merchandise at Birnam Arts

Gift Shop

Peter Rabbit Merchandise

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Reviews

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Star Star Star Star

Compact Arts & Conference Centre, it is also the exhibition centre for Beatrix Potter with an adjacent themed garden. The centre has a cafe with indoor / outdoor seating areas. Throughout the year the arts centre hosts a variety of different acts, shows, talks & exhibitions.

Simon Hawkes   |   Google Reviews

Star Star Star Star Star

Great exhibition and performance spaces. Lovely terrace and indoor seating with lots of light. Great food and drinks and even a garden next-door for a stroll afterwards. Like

John Kirkwood   |   Google Reviews

Accessibility

Parking

There are two dedicated accessible car park spaces directly in front of the venue. There is a gentle slope from street level up to the accessible entrance.

Entrance

Using the touch pad, enter via the large glass doors to the right of the main entrance.

 

Toilets

There are two Accessible Toilets within the venue, one on each level.

Ramps

There are ramps situated throughout the building to enable easy access from the Café to the Box Office and Shop, as well as on the first floor to go from the Gallery to the Meeting Room.

 

Lifts

There is a lift between the ground level and first floor.

Floor Plan

View our floorplan for more
detailed information.

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Map showing Birnam Arts and conference centre in Scotland

Opening Times

Box Office
Open periodically throughout the week | Book online 24/7


Cafe
Daily | 10 - 4



Birnam Arts
Station Road
Birnam Dunkeld
PH8 0DS
admin@birnamarts.com
Tel: 01350 727 674

Entrance

Welcome to Birnam Arts, a boutique multi-purpose arts, conferencing and entertainment venue.

Highlights

Pop in to the Foyer Cafe for breakfast, grab a delicious coffee with a selection of our homemade baking or enjoy a light lunch whilst browsing on the free WiFi. Wander upstairs to view the latest of our monthly art exhibitions before visiting the world of Beatrix Potter, or the Gift Shop to purchase a special gift for your loved ones or yourself!

Star Star Star Star Star

Beautiful space, lovely people, Beatrix Potter Gardens and a wonderful exhibition "Earthly Walks" by Grigorios Karastamatis until the 18th of July (2021)!

Stella Valvi   |   Google Reviews

Beatrix Potter Garden

Opening times

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Star Star Star Star Star

Happy to support this incredible venue which hosted our wedding 3 years ago now. Still the best day of our lives and the Birnam arts played a huge part in that!

Jane Lewis   |   Crowdfunder #savebirnamarts 2020

  • Entrance

  • Kinnaird

  • Cafe

  • Beatrix Potter

  • Shop

  • Gallery

  • Studio