The History of Dunfermline Art Club
Founded 1883.

A meeting of gentlemen called together by circular for the purpose of forming a fine Art Association for the town and district, was held in the committee rooms of St. Margaret's Hall, Dunfermline. It was agreed that a committee should be appointed to carry out preliminary arrangements as to the constitution, rules, place and time of exhibitions etc. Provost Walls, W. Inglis (Baillie) John Smith (Banker) Andrew Blair (Landscape painter) George Robertson (Draper) and John Lawson (Designer) were elected.

(From the Dunfermline Press 23rd of March 1883)

* As a result of this meeting The Dunfermline Art Club was formed. The Club's first exhibition was opened on the 1st of December 1883 by the Honorary President Lord Elgin, and the show ran until the 18th of January 1884. For this launch, the Carnegie swimming pool was turned into a temporary gallery, with the pool covered by flooring and the gallery illuminated by special gas lighting. The works of a number of well-known artists were shown, together with those of 30 local artists, totalling almost 800 exhibits.

* With only a short break during World War ll, the Art Club has continued to encourage and support amateur art in the community. For many years the Club has had an Annual Exhibition of Members' work. there have been a number of exhibition venues including: 3 Randolph street(1910,1911) Abbey Park Place (1920,1921) Abbot House(1932,1934,1935) Canmore Congregational Church Hall (1950,1952) and for a time, the Kingsgate Centre.

* In 1953 new studio premises were acquired at 68 New Row. The former Music Institute was very kindly made available to the Club from the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust who owned the building.

* Today The Dunfermline Art Club has over 60 members who make full use of the dedicated studio premises in the basement of Townhill Community Centre. The Club is open to anyone over 18 years of age, who has an interest in art. Members have differing levels of ability and commitment, from the casual 'sometimes' painter to the dedicated daily painter. Most take their work along to the sessions, while some prefer to work at home but go to the Club to keep in touch with other artists and diary events over a coffee. .