The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum

The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum The Stirling Smith, Stirling's free visitor attraction! The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum is a place where everyone is welcome.
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The building has played a very special part in the history of Stirling since its founding in 1874. Established by the bequest of artist Thomas Stuart Smith (1815-1869), it was built on land supplied by the Burgh of Stirling. Today, The Smith functions as a gallery, museum, and cultural centre for the Stirling area. It serves as the repository for the historical artefacts and paintings of Stirlings

hire, while also offering exhibition opportunities for contemporary artists. The Smith is a much-treasured resource in our community, valued for its lecture theatre, café, and biodiversity garden as well as exhibitions.

The world’s oldest football — one of Scotland’s most remarkable historical objects — is leaving its home at the Stirling...
19/06/2026

The world’s oldest football — one of Scotland’s most remarkable historical objects — is leaving its home at the Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum to travel across the Atlantic for the very first time. ⚽️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Upon arrival in the United States, it will go on display at the Coral Gables Museum in Miami as part of their headline exhibition, Diplomacy and the Beautiful Game: From Scotland to Brazil to Haiti, where it will be on view to the public from 20 to 26 June.

In a historic moment, the ball will also be attending the World Cup match between Brazil and Scotland on 24 June, marking the first time in its near 500-year history that the ball will attend a FIFA World Cup game. ⚽

The project is a partnership between the Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum, the Brazilian Consulate in Scotland, the Consulate General of Brazil in Miami and Coral Gables Museum, with funding support from Banco do Brasil.

Additional support has been provided by Islander UK, Harris Tweed Scotland, Click Netherfield and Constantine Fine Art Handlers, helping to prepare, protect and present the football and associated exhibition materials for the journey to Miami. 💫

NO SCOTLAND, NO PARTY! ⚽Get ready for Scotland's second match with the perfect warm-up TONIGHT! Join Hamish MacDonald fo...
18/06/2026

NO SCOTLAND, NO PARTY! ⚽

Get ready for Scotland's second match with the perfect warm-up TONIGHT!

Join Hamish MacDonald for a special evening of poems, stories and live performance from his book Square Baw – a love letter to Scottish football, family, community and social history.

📅 18th June, 6pm–8pm
📍 The Smith Museum, Stirling
🎟️ FREE entry – but booking is essential
✨ Come see the oldest football in the world, get in the World Cup spirit, and enjoy a brilliant night of Scottish football storytelling.
👉 Book your free ticket here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/square-baw-a-celebration-of-scottish-football-tickets-1990495431418?aff=oddtdtcreator
Tag a fellow Scotland fan who needs to be there! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿⚽

⚽🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 No Scotland, No Party! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿⚽️The World Cup begins — and all eyes (and hearts 💙) are on Scotland as they take...
13/06/2026

⚽🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 No Scotland, No Party! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿⚽️

The World Cup begins — and all eyes (and hearts 💙) are on Scotland as they take on Haiti!

Here at The Stirling Smith, we’ll be cheering the Scotland National Team on with a special sense of pride. After all, we are the Keepers of the world’s oldest football, dating from 1540 and discovered in the bedchamber of Mary, Queen of Scots at Stirling Castle.

It feels rather wonderful to think that while the modern game plays out on the world stage, its story stretches back centuries — and a small but remarkable part of that story lives right here in Stirling.

So from all of us at The Smith (and from the 1540 football too)… good luck, Scotland. We’ll be cheering every kick of the way.

Pop in and say hello if you’re passing — and meet a true piece of football history. ⚽✨



No Scotland No Party Illustration by Allistair Burt, Hole in my Pocket

🐾 Angus, our museum dog, has some new sausage dog friends!You’ll spot Angus proudly taking centre stage in today’s photo...
12/06/2026

🐾 Angus, our museum dog, has some new sausage dog friends!

You’ll spot Angus proudly taking centre stage in today’s photo, surrounded by the newest arrivals to our shop — a very charming pack of dachshund-inspired goodies.

It feels especially poignant to welcome them today, as we are very sad to hear of the passing of the legendary British artist David Hockney, whose much-loved paintings of his dachshunds Stanley and Boodgie captured the warmth, humour and character of these little dogs so beautifully.

A little tribute, then, from Angus and his new friends — to art, dogs, and the joy they bring. Pop in and say hello if you’re passing. 🐶🎨

09/06/2026

Thankyou !!

Fantastic to see our football friend travelling around Scotland with ! ⚽️

🎨The Smith Annual Summer Art Challenge🎨⚽The Oldest Football's Magic Summer!⚽Did you know? The Stirling Smith is home to ...
08/06/2026

🎨The Smith Annual Summer Art Challenge🎨

⚽The Oldest Football's Magic Summer!⚽

Did you know? The Stirling Smith is home to the world's oldest football – found in Mary Queen of Scots' bedchamber, in Stirling Castle. This summer, the ball is going to the World Cup (just like Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿).

Create any artwork – landscape, portrait, still life, abstract – inspired by the ball's 500-year journey. Use any materials. No need to draw the ball itself.

Ideas:

· Mary Queen of Scots playing football (Renaissance style!)
· Our Tunnock's teacake tiger on the pitch🐅⚽
· Scotland's tartan colours (blue/white/gold)
· Your own magic summer scene

How to enter:

· Email a photo of your artwork to [email protected] (include name, age, contact email, parental permission if under 16, and social media permission yes/no)
· Or drop off at reception with the same details on the back

Deadline: Sunday 19 July (day after the World Cup final)

Three categories: Mini (0-7), Junior (8-15), Grown-up (16+)

Category Prizes: Gift vouchers for the museum shop & café + Keeper of the Ball certificate.

All entries displayed on our gallery wall.

From the Renaissance to the World Cup – with a Highland cow and a teacake tiger along the way. 🐮🐯⚽



Illustration credit: Allistair Burt from Hole in my Pocket

NEW EXHIBITION Quietude - New Works by Peter YatesPeter Yates’ paintings invite us to pause and experience a sense of ca...
05/06/2026

NEW EXHIBITION

Quietude - New Works by Peter Yates

Peter Yates’ paintings invite us to pause and experience a sense of calm. In a world shaped by constant noise and negative news, these works offer a space for stillness, reflection, and quiet attention.

Inspired by the natural environment in Scotland and by memories of travel abroad, Yates’ work draws on observation, imagination, and recollection.

3 June - 30 August | Wednesday - Sunday | 10am - 5pm

🧘‍♀️ Quiet Tuesday yoga at The Stirling SmithEscape the rush and unroll your mat with Lois Simpson in Gallery 2 – surrou...
04/06/2026

🧘‍♀️ Quiet Tuesday yoga at The Stirling Smith

Escape the rush and unroll your mat with Lois Simpson in Gallery 2 – surrounded by stunning paintings and the one‑of‑a‑kind Mach brothers’ tiger sculpture (yes, the one covered in Tunnock’s teacake wrappers! 🍫🐯).

The museum is closed to the public, so it’s just us, the art, and a beautifully peaceful practice.

📅 Tuesdays 12pm-1pm (arrive 11.50, side door)
📍 Gallery 2, The Stirling Smith

Spaces limited, tickets are £10 – click on link below to book! 🙏✨

https://bookwhen.com/loismoveit

🏆⚽ Scotland at the World Cup – and we’ve got the world’s oldest football right here!Yes, you read that right. The Stirli...
29/05/2026

🏆⚽ Scotland at the World Cup – and we’ve got the world’s oldest football right here!

Yes, you read that right. The Stirling Smith is home to the world’s oldest football – and with Scotland qualifying for the World Cup, what better time to celebrate the beautiful game?

Join Hamish MacDonald for a special evening of poems, stories and live performance from his book Square Baw – a love letter to Scottish football, family, community and social history.

📅 18th June, 6pm–8pm
📍 The Smith Museum, Stirling
🎟️ FREE entry – but booking is essential

✨ Come see the oldest football in the world, get in the World Cup spirit, and enjoy a brilliant night of Scottish football storytelling.

👉 Book your free ticket here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/square-baw-a-celebration-of-scottish-football-tickets-1990495431418?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

Tag a fellow Scotland fan who needs to be there! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿⚽

Address

40 Albert Place
Stirling
FK82RQ

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+441786471917

Website

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