7 Best Dunedin Art Galleries and Museums

If you’re planning a trip to Dunedin, Florida and want to see museums and art galleries, you don’t have to drive to St. Pete or Tampa. There are several amazing Dunedin art galleries and museums downtown or nearby. In this blog post we’ll explore seven of them and share what makes them special.

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Dunedin, Florida is perhaps best known for its waterfront parks, cute downtown area, and many festivals, including a plethora of art festivals. It’s not the first place one thinks of when thinking of art galleries and museums. Many people who visit Dunedin take a day trip to St. Petersburg to experience the museums found there. It’s a great trip, but one doesn’t have to venture that far from Dunedin to see fun museums or great art. 

If you’re planning a trip to Dunedin, save this post to refer back to and add a Dunedin art gallery and museum to your plans. Also be sure to check out my favorite Dunedin activities to add to your itinerary as well as the best restaurants in Dunedin. 

7 Best Dunedin Art Galleries and Museums

If you’re ready to jump in, let’s get to it. The list is heavy on art galleries because that’s one of the things that thrives in Dunedin – art. The town has monthly art and craft fairs and plays host to Art Harvest, one of the best juried art shows in the southeastern United States. Sometimes, we even refer to our art scene as a mini-St. Pete.

1. Dunedin Fine Arts Center

• Address: 1143 Michigan Blvd, Dunedin, FL 34698-2712
• Hours: varies, check website
• Cost: free, donations accepted

The Dunedin Fine Arts Center (DFAC) regularly wins awards for the best non-museum art gallery in the Tampa Bay area. Its two signature events – Trashy Treasures and Wearable Art – also regularly win awards for best art party and best fashion event.

DFAC has been a part of the Dunedin art scene since 1975. Since then, it has grown into a 50,000+ square foot facility which offers exhibits, a children’s museum, a gift shop, a cafe, summer and holiday camps, and classes to adults and kids. The mission at DFAC is to enrich lives through educational experiences in the visual arts.

Walking into the Dunedin Fine Arts Center, one immediately notices the high ceiling in the lobby where signage and artwork is on display. Several gallery rooms display current exhibits which have included diverse artwork such as the Tentmakers of Cairo, 2D & 3D Miniatures, 100 Women Artists: Then and Now, and many others. The center also often exhibits student works from camps and nearby schools as well as showcasing local artists.

Visitors can end their visit with lunch at the Palm Cafe featuring DFAC’s own special roast coffee and a variety of sandwich and salad offerings. And help support DFAC by purchasing something from the gallery shop.

2. Dunedin History Museum

• Address: 349 Main St, Dunedin, FL 34698-5700
• Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 11am to 5pm
• Cost: $5 kids, $8 adults (discounts and free entry available for many, check their website for details)

Like many small town historical societies and history museums, the Dunedin History Museum (DHM) found a home in the town’s old train depot. In 2024, the train depot turns 100 years old, and the museum is celebrating with a project called Echoes of the Junction, a collection of stories related to the Dunedin Train Depot. Through photos, videos, and oral storytelling, the history of the depot will live on.

The Dunedin History Museum’s mission is  to be the primary destination for discovering and fostering connections to Dunedin’s rich history, and it achieves this mission through a variety of exhibits, tours, and events. Dunedin is one of the oldest towns on Florida’s Gulf coast and at one time was one of the largest ports on Florida’s west coast. This history lives on through exhibits such as:

• Centennial Chronicles showcasing the towns origins,
• Discover Dunedin exploring the town’s maritime achievements,
• From Grove to Grove which immerses one in the town’s citrus industry,
• Rails to Trails, the Train Depot and Orange Belt Railroad’s evolution from train to outdoor trail.

The Museum also hosts several ongoing events, such as monthly Victoria Drive Sunset Stroll and Downtown Dunedin Walking Tour, and annual events for Halloween and the holidays.

3. Stirling Art Studios & Gallery

• Address: 702 Broadway, 2nd Floor, Dunedin, FL 34698-6911
• Hours: Thursday – Sunday, 11am to 3pm
• Cost: free

Stirling Art Studios & Gallery is one of the best Dunedin art galleries and a favorite among locals and local artists. It’s a collective of local artists with studios occupying the entire second floor of the Stirling Commons building in downtown Dunedin. The collective includes 10 permanent working studios, the headquarters of the Miniature Art Society of Florida, and Penny Lane-The Ultimate Beatles Collection.

Stirling hosts monthly exhibits, usually with an open call to artists and varying themes. The gallery opens longer on the second Saturday of each month for the monthly artists’ reception. It also hosts an annual fundraiser for Dunedin Doggie Rescue, Art to the Rescue, with an animal-themed art show open to all artists and mediums and a basket raffle during the artists’ reception. Art to the Rescue is a highlight for many local artists who might not otherwise exhibit their work.

4. Penny Lane, Beatles Museum

• Address: 702 Broadway, 2nd Floor, Dunedin, FL 34698-6911
• Hours: Thursday – Sunday, 11am to 3pm
• Cost: free

Housed within Stirling Art Studios & Gallery, Penny Lane Beatles Museum is one of the most unique of the Dunedin art galleries and museums. The free exhibit displays an astounding collection of Beatles memorabilia, one of the largest and most eclectic in the world.

Penny Lane was founded in 2017 by local physician, Dr. Robert Entel, and Colin Bissett who grew up in Liverpool and attended school with Pete Best’s brother (the Beatles’ first drummer). The collection on display comprises less than one half of the total collection. For this reason, the museum has been on the search for a new location and is scheduled to move to Ybor City in Fall 2025.

Memorabilia in the collection includes photos, letters, signed guitars, puppets, pins, and strands of hair. It also includes more eclectic items like Yellow Submarine paraphernalia and a serape once worn by Ringo Starr. The curator, Harlan, and docent, Stoney, are a wealth of information and a delight to speak to when visiting Penny Lane.

5. Art Smart Coffee Gallery

• Address: 1275 Bayshore Blvd, Dunedin, FL 34698-4245
• Hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 10am to 5pm
• Cost: free

Art Smart Coffee Gallery falls firmly into the category of unique coffee shops and lands on this list for the extensive collection and variety of art on display and for sale. Though many people go to Art Smart for the fresh roasted coffee and the owner’s affable nature, they stay to peruse the art.

One of the gallery’s main focuses, besides coffee, is Picasso. Visitors find a huge collection of the artist’s prints and memorabilia. The gallery also displays and sells art by local artists. 

Located on Alternate 19 and backing up to the Pinellas Trail, Art Smart is a great place to reach by car or bicycle. In fact, it’s a favorite for casual cyclists or walkers who crave a great iced coffee and a little break.

6. Plainsmen Gallery

• Address: 2141 Main St, Dunedin, FL 34698-5606
• Hours: varies, please check the website for current hours
• Cost: free

Plainsmen Gallery was born in1982 out of a love for Western and Native American art, much like the larger James Museum in St. Petersburg. The founders of Plainsmen enjoyed their time out west and the artwork reminiscent of that area so much that they decided to bring that Western feeling home to Dunedin. Though the gallery started as a way to feature art not often seen in Florida at that time, it expanded over the years to include artwork that showcases wildlife and Florida as well.

Though small, Plainsmen features several well-known sculptors and painters through several art shows each month which usually run a few weeks to a couple of months. They also offer fine art sales, resales, and consultation services.

7. Studio 1212 Art Gallery

• Address: 234 Monroe St, Dunedin, FL 34698
• Hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 11:00am to 3:00pm
• Cost: free

Studio 1212 Art Gallery began in 1971 as an artists’ cooperative incorporated by the students of Czech-born William Pachner who taught art classes when he was in the Tampa Bay area. The cooperative is likely one of the first artist coops in the Tampa Bay area and Florida.

Today the gallery is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization which seeks to support the art community through exhibits, critiques, mentorships, and workshops. It was named Best Gallery Cooperative by Tampa Bay Magazine in 2022 and 2023. The events calendar is filled with month-long art shows and free art critiques which are open to any artist in the community.

Wrapping Up Dunedin Art Galleries and Museums

Though Dunedin, Florida is best known for its vibey downtown and miles of waterfront parks and beaches, it’s also a haven for artists and one of the more historic towns on Florida’s west coast. Dunedin art galleries and museums provide great opportunities to learn more about Dunedin’s rich history and to explore the talent of local artists. Next time you’re in Dunedin, add a stop to one of these galleries or a museum.

If you love unique museums, you’ll love Imagine Museum, a fantastic glass museum and gallery in St. Petersburg. Other great local museums include Ybor City Museum State Park in Ybor City and Polk County Museum of Art in Lakeland.

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