Special Activities
In addition to the free quizzes and children’s guide book which are available in the Shop, we also have two activities which are suitable for educational groups. These are provided in partnership with Historic Scotland and there may be restrictions on eligibility. Please contact us for availability and further information on this. The activity themes are Victorian Life and the Second World War. Further information is available by contacting the Learning Services Unit at Historic Scotland directly and searching for Duff House. There is a Scottish Government school visits travel subsidy scheme. We also have a Handling Box on the Victorian Life theme which is available to reserve for your visit. Meanwhile if you would like to discuss your visit or require further information then please call 01261 818181 or send us an enquiry.
Duff House was designed by William Adam for William Duff of Braco from 1735 and contains works on loan from the National Galleries of Scotland. The collection includes highly decorative furniture, tapestries and other objects d’art from the 1600s to 1900s. Moreover, the House and grounds have a fascinating history with plenty of interesting stories and famous personalities associated with them. More information on the Grounds is available online and there is a free walking tour available from the Shop. The house is also a venue for a variety of arts-related activities and an annual events programme of concerts, lectures and workshops for all ages.
Duff House hosts a range of temporary exhibitions so it is worth checking out what is on when planning your visit. You may wish to tour the house in the morning and visit the exhibition in the afternoon? Exhibition visits can be more focussed as the displays are usually on a particular artist or theme. We also support work by contemporary artists and there may be more modern pieces in the House, keeping in mind that all the art in the house was new once! Such works are often very engaging for children who are surprisingly open to conceptual or abstract art, particularly when they are stimulated by discussion and related activities. Details of our 2012 programme will be available shortly.
