Article Source: Glasgow Museums
Last Updated: 10 April 2019 16:45
Never before on public display outside of London, the Natural History Museum’s iconic 26-metre-long Diplodocus cast, Dippy, is travelling the length and breadth of the UK until late 2020 on a nationwide tour.
Dippy is currently on display at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the fourth stop of the eight-venue-tour. Since his Scottish debut on 22 January over 450,000 people have marvelled at the iconic diplodocus.
The tour originally aimed to introduce 1.5 million people to the awe-inspiring dinosaur cast, helping inspire the next generation of scientists and encourage families to explore nature on their doorstep. Now as the tour reaches the halfway point Dippy is already well over halfway towards achieving his ambitious goal.
Dippy on Tour: A Natural History Adventure is being brought to visitors across the UK by the Natural History Museum in partnership with the Garfield Weston Foundation, and supported by Dell EMC and Williams & Hill.
Director of the Natural History Museum, Sir Michael Dixon says: “We are thrilled with the news that Dippy has been seen already by one million visitors. His success at the first four venues has been beyond our expectations. Not only has he broken visitor number records at every venue, Dippy has had a huge social and economic impact, benefiting the surrounding communities.
“All of our partner venues have put on fantastic supporting exhibitions and worked with other local organisations to create a programme of activities which have so far helped to inspire tens of thousands of children to go on Dippy-themed adventures in the great outdoors. With four venues left on the tour in Newcastle, Cardiff, Rochdale and Norwich we have no doubt that Dippy will continue to draw crowds and thrill children.”
Philippa Charles, Director of the Garfield Weston Foundation, says: “We are absolutely delighted that one million people have been enthralled by Dippy in Dorchester, Birmingham, Belfast and now Glasgow. We hope that he continues to inspire visitors to think about and explore the wonders of our natural world in the remaining four stops of his tour.”
Reaching this major milestone follows a succession of smash-hit appearances. At Dorset County Museum, yearly visitor numbers tripled in under three months with Dippy being seen by 153,189 people, providing a £2.25 million boost to the local economy.
At Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery’s he was the most successful temporary exhibition ever, attracting 140,000 additional visitors to Birmingham’s city centre who ultimately spent £4.2m in the city. This success was recently referred to as the “Dippy phenomenon” by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) who cited the dinosaur as a reason for the increase of 38% (831,548 visits) to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.
Continued successes were seen at Belfast’s Ulster Museum who reported the highest number of visitors ever for an exhibition in a single day (4,200) and received 130,000 visitors overall. Now as Dippy reaches one million visitors mark whilst in residence at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, he has set another visitor record. With almost half a million visitors so far, the museum has achieved its highest number of visitors to a temporary exhibition to date.
Chair of Glasgow Life, Councillor David McDonald, said: “The response to Dippy on Tour at Kelvingrove Museum has been incredible. Almost half a million people have come and wondered at this marvellous creature. We are delighted Dippy will add the title of millionaire to his many achievements here in Glasgow, a city that has really taken him to our heart. It’s a fantastic overall number, which we expect will only grow during the last four weeks of his stopover in Glasgow.”
“Don’t forget there is still time to see Dippy in Glasgow before he stomps off to Newcastle, where we are sure he will amaze many thousands more people.”
Dippy will be on display at Kelvingrove Museum until 6 May. His next destination, the fifth on the tour, will be the Great North Museum, Hancock, Newcastle upon Tyne, where he will be in residence from 18 May - 6 October 2019.
Centre stage will be the unveiling of a new ride – the Air Raid - a thrill ride that will take you to your limits!
READ MOREFull cast and creatives announced for the tour of Maggie & Me, the first stage adaptation of Damian Barr's award-winning memoir touring UK in May and June!
READ MOREDobbies today launches Dobbies Community Gardens, to offer support for community and charity groups across the UK to help transform, restore or start their indoor or outdoor green spaces.
READ MOREA sinister story involving 'stovies' and a grisly tale about the strange sheep of Greshornish have been chosen as the winning and runner-up stories in The Glencairn Glass crime short story competition
READ MOREThe National Trust for Scotland is going hopping mad for Easter and hosting a bumper 35 Easter egg trails at the special places in its care this spring.
READ MORELanark Amateur Musical Society (LAMS) have announced Sunshine on Leith as their 45th anniversary production in March 2025.
READ MOREGreat Run 2024 series highlights inspirational stories from runners around the UK.
READ MOREDobbies, the UK's leading garden centre, is bringing back its much-loved Easter event, inviting families to hop along to their nearest store and enjoy an Easter Bunny Breakfast egg-stravaganza.
READ MORELanarkshire Pride proudly announces the return of Pride South Lanarkshire on the 26th & 27th July 2024 in Hamilton town centre!
READ MOREFriday 8th March marks International Women's Day and to celebrate Vue is set to screen four inspiring films which follow the achievements of incredible female leads.
READ MORENew research released by VisitScotland reveals the growing popularity of Scottish traditional music, finding that over a third of Scots (34%) are listening to it more often in the past year.
READ MOREA stellar line-up of authors are set to take Paisley by storm at this year's Paisley Book Festival in April!
READ MOREThe AJ Bell Great Scottish Run is back on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th October, and the Earlybird offer to save up to £8 off your entry ends this Friday 1st March at 10am.
READ MOREA Scottish author's poignant tale of generosity and kindness has raised £2,262 to help the homeless.
READ MOREDobbies is offering customers the chance to treat the mother figures in their lives to an indulgent Mother's Day Afternoon Tea experience and a special flower gift on March 9th & 10th.
READ MOREAn Impassioned photo-led exhibition that depicts the challenge, pride and responsibility felt by those working in Scotland’s fishing industry is to debut within the Scottish Parliament.
READ MOREThe Scottish Influencer Awards, the major awards ceremony celebrating Scotland's stars of social, has announced the full shortlist of nominees in the running to be named the Influencer of the Year.
READ MOREChannel 4's 'Location, Location, Location' is coming to Glasgow this Spring and they're looking for property hunters!
READ MOREDobbies is encouraging gardeners of all ages and skill levels across the country to get one of their 5 a day by learning how to grow soft fruits at one of its free workshops in March.
READ MOREScotland's largest wedding showcase, The Scottish Wedding Show, returns to Glasgow this Valentine's weekend and is putting love on display as the country celebrates 10 years of same sex marriage.
READ MOREThe whole family can enjoy a day of magical storytelling and farmyard fun at the National Museum of Rural Life in East Kilbride this half-term!
READ MORETo mark the anniversary of Mary Queen of Scots’ death, Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has released a digital 3D model of her death mask.
READ MORETopgolf Glasgow is hosting a mammoth Super Bowl party across three floors with unlimited golf and top-notch American scran included in ticket price.
READ MORERory McIlroy will return to the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club, North Berwick from July 11th-14th, with tickets on sale now!
READ MOREDobbies, the UK's leading garden centre, will be indulging people of all ages with its Valentine's Afternoon Tea, taking place across 68 of its stores on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 February!
READ MOREFollowing a sell-out run at the Fringe, Jack Docherty, the BAFTA award-winning star of Scot Squad and Absolutely, is taking his critically-acclaimed show David Bowie & Me: Parallel Lives on tour.
READ MOREWith less than four weeks until the first World Athletics Indoor Champion Glasgow 24 is crowned, organisers have revealed the medal specially commissioned for the event following a design competition.
READ MOREWorld-renowned festival Celtic Connections drew to a triumphant close last night after 18 days of spectacular sold-out concerts, innovative musical sessions and star-studded collaborations.
READ MORETaking over the whole of the SEC campus from tomorrow, The Scottish Caravan, Motorhome and Holiday Home Show, the biggest show of its kind in Scotland is not to be missed!
READ MORECumbernauld Theatre Has announced the cast for the first performance in its new concert series Encore! A Musical Theatre Concert, a brand-new unique, intimate concert.
READ MOREGo Radio | Number 1 for Glasgow & The West - Listen on DAB, Online or on your Smart Speaker, just say "Launch Go Radio"