The Butler Gallery programmes contemporary work of local, national and international visual artists in a living way, through exhibition, collection and education projects for the benefit of the widest possible audience. The Gallery is committed to playing a central role locally and nationally in developing and advocating the visual arts through its programme and associated activities.

The Butler Gallery is one of Ireland’s major contemporary art spaces outside of Dublin. It has been in operation as the Kilkenny Art Gallery Society since 1943 and in 1975 took up its present accommodation in the basement of Kilkenny Castle. The Butler Gallery exists on site and off site, as a place of interaction between artists and the public, a contemporary space within a non-contemporary setting.

For the past 5 years, an education and outreach programme has significantly contributed to audience development and raising awareness of the Gallery in all sectors of the community at local, national and international levels. The objective of the education department is to promote access to, awareness and understanding of contemporary arts practice to a wide range of audiences.